Hong Kong students defend sex survey

Students at a Hong Kong university Monday accused authorities of eroding freedom of expression after a student rag was censured for a survey on sexual fantasies, including incest and bestiality.

The Obscene Publications Tribunal provisionally classified the survey in Chinese University magazine "CU Student Press" as a class II obscene article.

A decision on punishment is expected Tuesday, with the magazine liable for a fine of 400,000 Hong Kong dollars (51,300 US dollars), and the editor, writer and publisher facing time in jail.

Students at the college are up in arms over the ruling.
"Many people here are angry because this is an attack on freedom of speech and freedom of publishing," said magazine vice-chief editor Lau Ming-wai.

CU Student Press was referred to the Obscene Publications Tribunal after it published the survey in its February edition.

Respondents were asked, among other things: "Do you fantasise about having sex with your parents or animals?"

It also asked if respondents had peeked at their parents showering or making love.

Lau said students involved with the survey were unsure whether they could count on the university's support.

"They are not saying anything until after the decision Tuesday," she said.

But reports in local media said university officials had taken a dim view of the publicity it had brought.

The South China Morning Post daily, citing magazine editor Chan Yuk-fung, said college staff had pressed editors to apologise.

"They told us not to make this incident big and implied that if we apologised, everything would settle down," Chan was quoted as saying.