Anti-LGBTQ lawmakers call for ban on Hong Kong Gay Games, saying it poses threat to national security
- Critics of gay rights call for investigation into source of event’s funding, saying it may amount to collusion with foreign forces
- They also call for top government adviser Regina Ip to resign for agreeing to officiate at opening this weekend, but she rejects claims as ‘ridiculous’
![Lawmaker Junius Ho attends a press conference in the Legislative Council building on Wednesday calling for a ban on the Gay Games. Photo: Edmond So](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2023/11/01/a2171e0c-78eb-407f-8336-2eff9823709e_98e346a8.jpg?itok=njUCTjnw&v=1698851319)
Ridiculing their claims on Wednesday, Executive Council convenor Regina Ip vowed to continue her open support for the Games, while the organisers insisted they were holding a sports and cultural event to promote inclusivity and unity.
The 11th Gay Games run from November 3 to 11 and will be held in Asia for the first time since the event’s inception in 1982, with about 2,000 athletes expected to compete.
Seven lawmakers – Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, Peter Shiu Ka-fai, Duncan Chiu Tat-kun, Michael Lee Chun-keung, Carmen Kan Wai-mun and Tik Chi-yuen – held a press conference joined by more than a dozen other critics to voice their opposition to the event.
“We object to any Western ideology that sugar-coated its agenda in the name of diversity and inclusivity for a sports event, attempting to subvert national security,” lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu said.
![Lawmakers including Junius Ho (third from right) present a letter at the Legislative Council building on Wednesday calling for a ban on the Gay Games. Photo: Edmond So Lawmakers including Junius Ho (third from right) present a letter at the Legislative Council building on Wednesday calling for a ban on the Gay Games. Photo: Edmond So](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/11/01/af633fb7-7db2-4063-967f-033aa653d5e9_1126e908.jpg)
He described the event as a “criminal activity” that spread the ideology of gay rights, subverting traditional Chinese family values.
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