Zi Teng - History

History

Established in September 1996, Zi Teng is the first group in Hong Kong working towards the recognition of sex workers as part of the mainstream work force, such as equal rights and a non-discriminatory environment.

The founder of this organization is Yim Yue Lin (嚴月蓮). Yim started to be aware of labour rights when she encountered an industrial dispute in her working factory. Afterwards, Yim has been working in different organizations fighting for the benefits of working labour. In 1994, Yim met her first-hand experience with the sex workers when she was working in the Hong Kong Women Christian Council (香港婦女基督徒協會). The inequalities, deprivations and discriminations that sex workers have to confront with, have strengthened Yim’s determination to help this minority group of people. It was later joined by other staff members, such as Elaine Lam, Mok Miu-ying, Chan Yan-yan and Kendy Yim Kit-sum. Zi Teng has been supported by dozens of nameless interns and volunteers, without whom the organization cannot exist till today.

In 1999, Zi Teng carried out Hong Kong’s first and only study of mainland prostitutes. After in-depth interviews with mainland prostitutes in Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta, and Macau, it found that most of the women were travelling to South Asian countries on Chinese passports and used Hong Kong as a stopover.

For the past few years, Zi Teng field workers visit the field (lock-ups or red-light districts) twice a week in order to spread the knowledge of Aids and other health and safety measures. They also provide free condoms to sex workers.