Prostitution In Hong Kong 1

Underlining and bold print by FuelMix

A young man has been arrested for allegedly setting up a high-end massage parlor for homosexuals in Mong Kok.

The 22-year-old was arrested in a sting operation in which a police officer posted as a gay customer.

After being admitted and the service arranged, he raised the alarm and officers raided the parlor in a unit of a commercial building on Nelson Street.

Under the Crimes Ordinance, those who manage a vice establishment face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.

Masseurs at the parlor were required on its website to have attained tertiary education level or above, while holders of diploma or tertiary degrees in recreation, sports, club management, physical and occupational therapy were listed as "preferable."

Those without such an education background were required to score 5.5 in the International English Language Testing System. Candidates also needed to be able to converse in Putonghua. The age and height of the therapists were listed on the website, while among the services was a "massage by four hands or six hands."

Lubricants, massage beds, condoms, massage oil and HK$4,900 cash were seized in the raid.

Inspector Natalie Lam Pik-ka of the Mong Kok District Special Duty Squad said it had deployed male officers to several undercover operations before the raid.

Police believe the massage parlor was being run by an individual, not triads.

The suspect had operated a smaller parlor in the district and later expanded his business to the 500-square-foot unit on Nelson Street which had seven rooms and three massage beds, according to police.

A police source said the parlor made the HK$4,900 that was seized within two hours of opening on Wednesday night, just before the raid.

The source said the suspect received tertiary education and had been nominated for a school beauty pageant organized by the lifestyle magazine Yes!.

-----"Gay massage parlor boss nabbed in police sting", The Standard, 7th October 2016

FuelMix says:

1.   What a great case study to figure out the legality of Prostitution here in Very Rich Megacity.

2.   It would appear that this 22 year old former high school nominee for a male beauty pageant, decided to use his looks, education and entrepreneurial talent to hire only the better educated sports types with a better than average command of English and Mandarin. (Technically, there is a difference between Putonghua and Mandarin, but why quibble).

3.  Although no details were given in the report about his client base, we're assuming it was aimed at expatriates and Mainland Chinese clients.  In other words, theoretically the clientele is upscale - but Far East Consortium Mongkok Building isn't.

4.  Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wanchai have for decades been the heterosexual massage parlour and brothel centers in Hong Kong. It's not surprising given just how many old, decrepit or nondescript buildings dating from the 1940s and 1950s are found there.   In Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei for example, they virtually line Nathan Road and the side streets.  If you're observant and happen to be in Mong Kok or Yau Ma Tei after, ooooohhh say, 9:30pm, you might even see white males darting into the dingy staircases with the yellow neon signs. (As they pass you, they'll be reeking of beer).

5.  Putting it another way, Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei are sexually charged neighbourhoods as well as hugely popular shopping and eating areas with late nite closing hours. Locating a gay massage parlour in the same area, made perfect sense.

6.   Not convinced..?  The building in which the gay massage parlour was located, is known as Far East Consortium Mongkok Building, 240 - 244 Portland Street, near the corner with Nelson Street:

• That's next to MTR Exit E1....which just happens to be the Exit to Alexander, located less than 5 minutes away;
• Not far from MTR Exit A2...which just happens to be the Exit to Big Top and Hutong, located less than 5 minutes away;

COMING UP IN PART 2:

The Legality Of Prostitution In Hong Kong