Cover When it comes to sexual health, the most powerful force for transformation often comes not from top-down policies, but from communities willing to have the conversations that others won’t (Photo: Pexels)
When it comes to sexual health, the most powerful force for transformation often comes not from top-down policies, but from communities willing to have the conversations that others won’t (Photo: Pexels)
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Two grassroots organisations are challenging stigma around sexual pleasure, female orgasm and AIDs, and leading honest conversations about sexual health
In Hong Kong, talking about sex is still largely taboo. People still struggle with shame, misinformation and barriers that keep them from getting the sexual health support they need. Traditional values run deep, and for many, seeking help feels impossible.
Yet change is happening. Across the city, grassroots organisations are quietly breaking down these walls of silence. Ahead of the Women’s Health in Focus: A Global Summit that’s happening in Hong Kong on June 16 and 17, we’re highlighting two of them—AIDS Concern and Sally Coco—whose community-led approach is fostering the kind of honest conversations that could reshape how Hong Kong thinks about sexual health.
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Confronting deep-rooted stigma
Above Vera Lui is an advocate of normalising sexual health conversations in Hong Kong (Photo: Instagram / @sallystoy)
Above Neda Ng wants HIV testing to be as normalised as a routine body checkup (Photo: Instagram / @aidsconcern)
Vera Lui is an advocate of normalising sexual health conversations in Hong Kong (Photo: Instagram / @sallystoy)
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Neda Ng, programme director of local NGO AIDS Concern, knows firsthand how stigma can be a matter of life and death. Hong Kong reported 365 new HIV cases in 2024—and her organisation is leading the battle against misconceptions around the disease.
“Despite progress in awareness, HIV-related stigma remains deeply rooted," Ng explains. “Many people continue to wrongly associate HIV solely with the gay community, leading those outside perceived ‘high-risk’ groups to dismiss the need for testing—even after engaging in high-risk sexual behaviours.”
This stigma creates a dangerous disconnect. Data from the Department of Health reveals that a higher proportion of late presenters come from populations not traditionally classified as high-risk.
Meanwhile, Vera Lui, founder of intimate lifestyle store Sally Coco, tackles a different but equally entrenched taboo. “The biggest taboo I’ve encountered is the stigma around female pleasure,” she says. “In Hong Kong, the narrative around sex is often male-centric, with little to no emphasis on women’s needs or desires. Many women grow up believing that their role in sex is to prioritise their partner’s pleasure rather than their own.”
The impact on women is profound and far-reaching. “I've met countless women who feel ashamed for never experiencing an orgasm or who believe something is ‘wrong’ with their bodies,” Lui continues. “They hesitate to ask questions or explore their sexuality due to societal pressure, shame, or fear of being judged.”
Building accessible, judgment-free spaces
Above Sexual pleasure and sexual health can be connected—it’s high time to destigmatise the former and prioritise the latter (Photo: Instagram / @sallystoy)
Sexual pleasure and sexual health can be connected—it’s high time to destigmatise the former and prioritise the latter (Photo: Instagram / @sallystoy)
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Both organisations understand that breaking down taboos requires more than just information—it requires creating safe spaces where people feel comfortable seeking help without fear of judgment.
AIDS Concern has developed what Ng calls “a service infrastructure that removes barriers for accessing HIV testing by providing community-led, free, private and culturally sensitive services that operate at hours and locations that are convenient to the community.” This includes evening hours, Sunday sessions for migrant domestic workers, mobile van testing and peer referrals. The organisation also distributes HIV self-test kits during outreach and operates a hotline service.
Sally Coco has undergone a similar evolution. What began as “a small, intimate shop meant to provide a safe space for people to explore sexuality without shame or judgment” has transformed into something much broader. “Over the years, it has evolved into more than just a shop; it's a community hub for sex education, empowerment, and open conversations,” Lui notes. “We've grown from selling products to offering workshops, hosting events, and building an online presence where people can learn about intimacy and pleasure in an approachable way.”
Education as empowerment
Central to both organisations’ approach is the belief that education, done right, can be transformative. But they’re not talking about the fear-based sex education that has traditionally dominated Hong Kong’s schools.
Let’s normalise HIV testing as a routine part of self-care—just like a regular body check
“If I could redesign Hong Kong’s sex education, I would start by shifting the focus from fear-based teaching to pleasure-based, inclusive and holistic education,” Lui says. "Right now, the emphasis is on avoiding risks, like pregnancy and STIs, but there’s little dialogue about consent, healthy relationships, emotional intimacy or the anatomy of pleasure."
Meanwhile, AIDS Concern provides what Ng describes as “capacity-building training for NGO professionals and healthcare pre-professionals, offering accurate, comprehensive and inclusive sexual health education”. They deliver youth-focused workshops to empower young people “to make informed decisions, protect their sexual health, and challenge stigma from an early age.”
Normalising sexual health as self-care
Above Both Lui and Ng envision a Hong Kong where sexual health conversations are no longer taboo (Photo: Pexels)
Both Lui and Ng envision a Hong Kong where sexual health conversations are no longer taboo (Photo: Pexels)
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Perhaps most importantly, both organisations are working to reframe sexual health as a normal, empowering part of self-care rather than something shameful or frightening.
Ng’s team is committed to challenging stigma and reshaping public understanding through ongoing anti-stigma education. “We aim to normalise HIV testing as a routine part of self-care—just like a regular body check.”
This normalisation is already showing results. Lui has noticed significant changes in public attitudes: “When we first started, many were hesitant, even embarrassed, to walk into the Sally Coco store [which sold sex toys]. Now, we see customers openly engaging with questions about their sexuality and relationships. More importantly, people are starting to recognise that sexuality is a part of overall well-being.”
Suchetana Mukhopadhyay is the Digital Content Manager for Tatler Hong Kong. In this role, she leads all digital editorial and branded content on Tatler Hong Kong’s website, from brainstorming story ideas with the writers to editing and publishing the articles, and from managing the overall content flow to driving search engine optimisation. She also leads the beauty content at Tatler Hong Kong and across the region, and is always looking to champion diversity through her articles. She was previously with Cedar Hong Kong and Gafencu, and freelanced for the South China Morning Post, Campaign Asia-Pacific, CNN and more. Contact her here.
