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But it faces a backlash from the city’s conservative political elites
By Chris Lau, CNN
The first Gay Games in Asia has faced a political backlash in co-host city Hong Kong after a group of conservative lawmakers called on authorities to scrap the event – and even suggested it could breach a sweeping national security law.
The four-decade old event – which brings both gay and straight athletes around the world to compete in a festival of sport, art and culture – kicked off on Friday with Hong Kong and the Mexican city of Guadalajara as joint hosts.
But there has been vocal opposition from some within the Chinese financial hub’s new “patriots only” political system that was ushered in by Beijing following huge and often violent democracy protests in 2019.
Eight city lawmakers on Wednesday backed a petition from conservative groups calling for the games to be scrapped, accusing the event of advocating for LGBTQ rights and spreading “Western ideology”.
Junius Ho, a firebrand legislator known for both his intense pro-Beijing nationalism and opposition to gay rights, said the petition “objects to any Western ideology that sugar-coated its agenda in the name of diversity and inclusivity for a sports event.”
He also suggested the event could breach provisions within the new national security law that ban foreign powers interfering in Hong Kong’s governance.
“In short, the national security act is the legal basis,” he said.
Another pro-Beijing lawmaker Peter Shiu said the game went beyond an ordinary sports event.
“This is obviously just advocacy. I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said.
Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity.
“All our books have been checked by professional accountants, open and transparent,” said Lisa Lam, co-chair of Gay Games, at the Hong Kong launch on Thursday adding they had been “abiding by the local laws since Day One.”
They also dismissed concerns that the allegations may deter participants from attending.
“Everyone has their own opinion about things, but we are just about sports and culture,” said Alan Lang, the event’s director of sports.
CNN asked Hong Kong’s government what support it had offered the games and what its views were on those lawmakers who said the event might breach national security rules.
A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. Law enforcement agencies will take action if there is any breach of the laws, whether it relates to general offences, crimes or acts endangering national security.”
By Chris Lau, CNN
The first Gay Games in Asia has faced a political backlash in co-host city Hong Kong after a group of conservative lawmakers called on authorities to scrap the event – and even suggested it could breach a sweeping national security law.
The four-decade old event – which brings both gay and straight athletes around the world to compete in a festival of sport, art and culture – kicked off on Friday with Hong Kong and the Mexican city of Guadalajara as joint hosts.
But there has been vocal opposition from some within the Chinese financial hub’s new “patriots only” political system that was ushered in by Beijing following huge and often violent democracy protests in 2019.
Eight city lawmakers on Wednesday backed a petition from conservative groups calling for the games to be scrapped, accusing the event of advocating for LGBTQ rights and spreading “Western ideology”.
Junius Ho, a firebrand legislator known for both his intense pro-Beijing nationalism and opposition to gay rights, said the petition “objects to any Western ideology that sugar-coated its agenda in the name of diversity and inclusivity for a sports event.”
He also suggested the event could breach provisions within the new national security law that ban foreign powers interfering in Hong Kong’s governance.
“In short, the national security act is the legal basis,” he said.
Another pro-Beijing lawmaker Peter Shiu said the game went beyond an ordinary sports event.
“This is obviously just advocacy. I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said.
Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity.
“All our books have been checked by professional accountants, open and transparent,” said Lisa Lam, co-chair of Gay Games, at the Hong Kong launch on Thursday adding they had been “abiding by the local laws since Day One.”
They also dismissed concerns that the allegations may deter participants from attending.
“Everyone has their own opinion about things, but we are just about sports and culture,” said Alan Lang, the event’s director of sports.
CNN asked Hong Kong’s government what support it had offered the games and what its views were on those lawmakers who said the event might breach national security rules.
A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. Law enforcement agencies will take action if there is any breach of the laws, whether it relates to general offences, crimes or acts endangering national security.”