Hong Kong now ‘very open-minded’ on LGBTQ issues, pride carnival founder says

Hong Kong has become “very open-minded” about LGBTQ issues, the founder of the city’s largest pride carnival has said, with the event garnering its highest number of corporate sponsorships yet ahead of its 10th anniversary later this month.

Brian Leung Siu-fai, who is also co-director of Pink Dot HK 2024, said on Tuesday he had never expected the festival to reach the 10-year milestone when he proposed bringing the event over from Singapore back in 2014.

“I’ve been hosting this event for the last 10 years and I can tell you that there are actually big differences,” he said. “The public has a very different viewpoint and a different vibe regarding LGBT issues. They are very open-minded.”

Inspired by Singapore’s annual Pink Dot festival, which started in 2009, the local iteration has become Hong Kong’s largest annual LGBTQ carnival.

Last year’s event marked a return to an outdoor format for the first time since 2018 and welcomed more than 13,000 visitors.