Lai Tung-Kwok’s comments have gone global as an example of officials blaming victims. Our official take on this, as given in a statement to AFP by Angie, is that: “Secretary Lai’s statement reveals how pervasive rape myths are in the government and society at large. The fact that rapists are acquainted with victims is nothing new to those carrying out research in this field, fighting sexual violence and/or working with victims. The construction of rapists as deranged, sex-starved strangers who attack women in dark alleyways is just a rape myth used to invoke fear in women and control our bodies. Another rape myth illustrated by his comments is that victims bring rape on themselves; in reality, rapists are the ones who choose to rape and hence cause it. There needs to be a shift away from blaming victims and trying to control women to questioning why society does not do more to prevent people from raping others and supporting victims.”
For a link to the original article posted by Noreen Mir on our Facebook page as well as a photo shared by PassionTimes comparing blaming victims for ‘drinking too much’ to wearing ‘sexy clothing’, please continue reading!
Photo posted on SWHK’s FB page by Noreen Mir.
Photo shared publicly on FB by Passiontimes.
slutwalkhongkong/蕩婦遊行 
SWHK supporter, Laurel Chor, has composed an email we can all send, with or without editing, to Lai via email. His email address: lai@sb.gov.hk
Dear Mr. Lai,
I am extremely offended by your comments regarding rape in Hong Kong. You suggested that young girls drink less in order to prevent rape. This is a classic case of victim-blaming; you have placed the responsibility on these young girls instead of pointing fingers at the actual perpetrators of rape. Your statements reveal an attitude in which you have a warped sense of blame and responsibility.
In the same “Hong Kong Standard” article in which you are quoted, Professor Shirley Hung Suet-lin states that only a fraction of rapes are reported–it is the same victim-blaming that you are guilty of that leads to women being afraid to report such crimes. If Hong Kong’s Secretary of Security is telling young girls that they are in any way responsible for their rape, I highly doubt that such leadership would lead to a Police Force that is understanding and appropriately responsive to a victim of rape. You state on the Security Bureau website that Hong Kong prides itself on being a ” free, open and secure society”. A society in which women are afraid to report serious crimes does not fit any of those descriptors.
You need to re-evaluate and change your attitudes and perceptions of victims of sexual assault. I expect an immediate apology. I further demand that mandatory, comprehensive training on sexual assault and its victims be implemented for all Security Bureau staff–starting from the top.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Location]
Reblogged this on Free Hong Kong and commented:
I am simply outraged!
Drinking is not a crime, rape is!