Five arrested in HK S&M demo

Outward displays of sexuality in Hong Kong are rare

HONG KONG, China -- Five gay rights activists have been arrested by Hong Kong police on charges of disorderly conduct following a mock sadomasochistic street protest.

The arrests came after a group of about 10 men and women, calling themselves "Rainbow Action", marched through the city center Sunday in protest at last weekend's police raid on a party held at a local sex shop.

The group sporting leather outfits, chains and whips then tied a demonstrator dressed in bondage gear to the gates of a city police station.

Scuffles broke out as officers fought to free the man and other demonstrators tried to force their way into the police station.

Handcuffed

The five arrested were handcuffed and led away by police. They were later released on bail.

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The S&M demo came a week after police raided a party at a sex shop in the city's Central district, which they said featured live demonstrations of sadomasochistic sex.

Twenty-six people were arrested in the raid and the shop, Fetish Fashion, was closed for several days.

Police said five undercover agents had been inside the shop before the raid and witnessed a performance titled "Mixed Play Party".

In a statement Rainbow Action said police were applying double standards in determining what constitutes an indecent performance arguing that officials allowed programs to be broadcast on television which were just as indecent.