12/09/2026
“A Body of One’s Own” — A Century of S*x Work in Hong Kong
In nineteenth-century Hong Kong, the colonial government printed these words on s*x workers’ licences: “The body is one’s own; one may come or go as one pleases.” On the surface, this appeared to affirm bodily autonomy and freedom of movement. In practice, however, it existed alongside licensing, surveillance, compulsory medical examinations and medical regulation, creating a colonial contradiction in which freedom and control coexisted. This promise was never truly realised. Instead, it remains a set of social conditions that s*x workers, service organisations and the wider public must work together to build and defend.
AFRO believes that social progress must be grounded in the protection of individual freedom, dignity and fundamental human rights. We work to promote social acceptance and inclusion, so that s*x workers can receive equal treatment, exercise their legal and health rights, and live free from discrimination and misunderstanding. In a Hong Kong that may appear modern and civilised, the stories of s*x workers are often overlooked or reduced to stereotypes. Yet their lives and experiences are just as diverse and valuable, and deserve to be seen and respected.
Co-curated by AFRO, Midnight Blue and Teen’s Key, “A Body of One’s Own” will take place from 12 to 27 September. More than an exhibition, the project is an opportunity to rethink humanity, labour and dignity. Through photographs, moving images and written stories, we hope to challenge prejudice and present diverse, authentic accounts of people’s lives.
The project takes place at The Garage @ Heath, a site that carries memories of Hong Kong’s nightlife and entertainment industry. From the My Fair Lady Nightclub and Restaurant in the 1970s, to the Chinese Palace Night Club, and later the Capital Restaurant & Nightclub in the 1980s, this space has witnessed the city’s transformations. Today, it brings these histories into dialogue with the lives of contemporary s*x workers, allowing history, place and human rights to intersect.
Starting from a century of s*x work history in Hong Kong, we invite everyone to consider: amid legal restrictions, social stigma, the risk of violence and economic pressures, what would it take to truly realise the promise that “the body is one’s own”?
📌 Venue｜The Garage @ Heath
B/F, 36–44 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
🗓️ Dates｜12–27 September 2026
🕛 Opening hours｜
Monday–Thursday｜12 noon–7pm
Friday–Sunday｜12 noon–9pm
IG: https://www.instagram.com/a_body_of_ones_own.hk2026/
Visitor Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPdeA7U0N2qARNy-7yy9bxUbs5RIfYwtJ558ibVgKZ9CwqWQ/viewform
This project is supported by HER Fund HER Fund 婦女動力基金
