Hong Kong opens first film festival on sex workers

Pedestrians walk near a poster for the first Hong Kong sex workers film festival

Concern group Zi Teng will show a total of nine films on sex workers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and the United States, some of which were shot by the prostitutes themselves.

Zi Teng spokeswoman Elaine Lam said response for the festival has been better than expected with several shows sold out.

"I guess it's the first time we do this in Hong Kong," Lam said. She hoped that the film festival will challenge stereotypes in a conservative Chinese society which discriminates against sex workers.

"There are deep prejudices towards them. Everyone thinks they only love money, all of them are linked with gangsters or drug dealers, so we hope to use this opportunity to allow these women to tell their own stories," Lam said.

The films include a documentary on Taiwan's 'mail-order brides' and a portrayal of Carol Leigh, one of the most prominent campaigners for sex workers' rights in the United States.