Wan Chai/ Is Prostitution Legal in Hong Kong?

It is hard to visit Hong Kong for more than a weekend without finding yourself in one of Asia’s most notorious neighborhoods - Wan Chai. Before arriving in Hong Kong, Wan Chai was described to me as, “The place the sailors go when they get off the boat”.

This description is a euphemism for the ‘place business men go when they take the long way home’, which is a euphemism for ‘Red Light District’, which is a euphemism for… you get it, right? Outside these (deep sniff) establishments, barely dressed Thai, Malaise and Philipino girls attempt to lure men in with the promise of all they can drink for $10 US. You can guess where it may go from there. Of course I am guessing as well… for real… don’t be nasty… I’m guessing.

On a three-block stretch of Lockhart Rd. in Wan Chai there must be thirty similar establishments all parading similar girls. Prostitution is not technically legal in Hong Kong, but it doesn't seem to be “illegal” (see what I did there, with the quotes and italics… that’s some good blog).

Wan Chai is not only home to exotic women recruiting sad men; it is also one of HK’s three (arguably) main spots for drinks, food culture and nightlife.

Lockhart Road, Wan Chai at Night

Walking down Lockhart Road in Wan Chai is a schizophrenic experience. In a three block stretch you will pass the following: Chic French restaurant owned by a celebrity chef, English Pub, prostitutes, American Deli, Thai food, prostitutes, night club, pool hall, English Pub, prostitutes... Wan Chai is the place the local’s drink, who claim they are too old for the touristy scene at Lan Kwai Fong. By locals, I mostly mean ex-patriots who came to Hong Kong on short business assignments and never left.

Quick story: This weekend Jenn and I were eating a decent Italian meal on the second floor balcony of a restaurant overlooking Lockhart Rd. We were sitting next to two German (I think) businessmen who appeared to be in their early thirties (I think). Meanwhile, on the street below, two young South East Asian women, dressed in tight fitting animal prints, confusedly scanned the street. After the two men nervously polished off their first pint of Beck’s the two women sauntered onto the balcony, awkwardly introduced themselves and took their respective seats along side their new "companions". By the end of the meal, the table was covered with empty wine bottles and half eaten broccoli rabe, while the Germans were covered in Asian women.

Worth noting: they don’t approach me when I am with my wife, but I am curious to see if they did whether Jenn would end up with an assault charge. 

Peace and Feng Shui:

FECG