Data Base

The Most Unforgettable 50 Minutes

"Hi! We are from AFRO." No sooner had we tapped on the wooden door, a tall slim woman figure with tanned skin appeared from behind. We always feel elated whenever somebody responds to us during the outreach visits. Hanging a friendly smile on her face, she said “I know AFRO!”, and invited us into her apartment.

Only wearing a pair of panties and a sports vest, it is obvious that she wanted to save up some electricity fee from air conditioning. However, she undoubtedly switched on the air conditioner for us and served us with 2 packs of iced lemon tea, perfect for us in sweats.

"Can we chat with you in Cantonese?" Not knowing her nationality, we asked out of courtesy. "Of course, I can speak either English or Cantonese!" She spoke fluently. As an intern of AFRO, I started by introducing myself. "My name is Karen, I am now a year 3 medical student." She didn't show a face of surprise like other girls do, but instead she said calmly, "I studied medicine, too." This unexpectedly left me in a look of surprise. Not forgetting what she learnt in the Sydney medical school, she started listing out the differences in medical education between Australia and Hong Kong. After practicing as a professional anaesthetist for 3 years, she felt unsatisfied in the tedious and repetitive work while finding the pleasure in sex unforgettable. She at last chose sex work as her occupation, which she can enjoy herself in work.

In our conversation, we even learnt that she was once featured in a famous ViuTV programme (Talker: Inside Out). I was instantly fascinated and looked at her as if she is a TV star. "My clients range from Legislative counsellors, lawyers, doctors..." She listed her achievements as if she was counting her jewellery. Who said sex workers have nothing to be proud of?

"I was once urged by a married man to be his new wife, but I firmly rejected him and warned that if he divorced his wife I would end my friendship with him." Who said sex workers do not have their moral rules and baselines?

Do sex workers necessarily have a low academic qualification? Jessica told me it is not like that. After graduating from university, she at least knows 3 languages. She told the society not to stereotype sex workers as innocent victims with her action- as she made such a choice voluntarily before entering the industry. Jessica knows how to enjoy life like we do. In her free time, she would walk her lovely dog and go hiking or shopping. Everyone is entitled to the right of choosing a life they want, why should we stigmatise someone for this?

"I see my work as fulfilling both my clients' and my need sexually and spiritually, solving their worries and sorrow by chatting and understanding them. Isn't giving a solution for somebody's problem also a work as a doctor?" Her words deeply engraved in my mind.

It was the most unforgettable 50 minutes I spent at Jessica's apartment.