Teenage Relationships and Controversial Sex Education Guidelines in Hong Kong

Teenage Relationships and the New Sex Education Guidelines in Hong Kong

On a sweltering summer afternoon, a 15-year-old girl and her boyfriend find themselves studying together in solitude. As she sheds her jacket and leans affectionately against his shoulder, one can’t help but wonder what his response should be. In a rather surprising move, the authorities in Hong Kong suggest that the young man should either continue with their studies or engage in an alternative activity, such as badminton, to steer clear of premarital sex and other “intimate behaviors.”

This unusual recommendation has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including lawmakers and sex educators, who argue that the new sex education materials introduced in Hong Kong are decidedly regressive. Despite this backlash, top officials remain steadfast in their stance, resulting in an increasingly awkward standoff. The South China Morning Post even posed the question in a headline, “Is badminton the Hong Kong answer to sexual impulses in schoolchildren?”

Teenagers in Hong Kong have found the situation quite amusing, with many taking to social media to express their thoughts. Some have remarked that the policymakers seem to have their “heads in the clouds,” while others have cleverly integrated the term into sexual slang, using phrases like “friends with badminton” instead of the more conventional “friends with benefits.”

The new sex education materials, released by the Education Bureau just last week, consist of a comprehensive 70-page document featuring worksheets tailored for adolescents and guidance intended for educators. The document clearly states that its lessons are not meant to encourage students to “start dating or engaging in sexual behaviors at a young age.” Additionally, it recommends that individuals in a “romantic relationship” fill out a form to delineate the boundaries of their intimacy.