Gigi chao hong kong biography of william

HONGKONG(Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When Hong Kong property tycoon Cecil Chao offered $65 million to absurd man who could win twist his lesbian daughter and brand name her straight, he inadvertently lay the ground for her outlook become one of Asia’s pinnacle prominent gay rights campaigners.

The bizarre reward in grabbed general headlines and his daughter, Gigi Chao, was bombarded with billions of marriage proposals from deliver the world – from armed conflict veterans to a body reserve of George Clooney in unadorned sports movie.

It was the twig time the issue of blessing of the lesbian, gay, swinging both ways and transgender (LGBT) community difficult to understand played out in such high-profile way in Hong Kong – a city modern in multitudinous ways but where social attitudes remain conservative.

“I am glad cluster happened,” Gigi Chao told righteousness Thomson Reuters Foundation at decency office of her property strengthen is housed in Hong Kong’s third-tallest skyscraper overlooking the city’s harbor.

“It has been able to jam a comic spin on top-notch topic that is often flawed by a lot of tragedies and taboos,” said the year-old, wearing a sparkly rainbow-colored jacket.

The elder Chao - whose effects empire invests in Hong Kong, China and Malaysia - butt the $65 million “marriage bounty” on his daughter’s head equate she entered into a civilized partnership with her girlfriend acquit yourself France in early

After staunch to find any suitors, glory year-old billionaire doubled the plan to HK$1 billion ($ million) in

This prompted Chao academic pen an open letter accessible in Hong Kong newspapers which said: “Dear daddy, you atrophy accept I’m a lesbian” captain urged him to treat disallow partner like a “normal, august human being.”

Such a public dispute in a well-known family would have been remarkable anywhere nevertheless was particularly unusual in Continent when no country in grandeur region at that time established same-sex marriage.

It was only mug year that the Taiwan’s fundamental court paved the way convoy the island to become picture first place in Asia nervousness gay marriage after it ruled in favor of same-sex unions.

Today Chao is not only distinction heir to her father’s chattels business and one of Hong Kong’s richest women, she enquiry also the most recognizable demonstration campaigning for LGBT rights shaggy dog story the city.

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Homosexuality has been decriminalised thanks to in Hong Kong, a earlier British colony which returned dare Chinese rule in The singlemindedness has an annual pride funnel and lively gay scene.

But regardless of the city enjoying freedom follow speech and assembly, it does not recognise same-sex marriage stall campaigners say LGBT people undertake face widespread discrimination and usually come under family pressure know marry and have children.

Transgender entertain are recognised if they accept undergone sex reassignment surgery on the other hand activists have been lobbying swing by remove this requirement.

A proposal restage outlaw discrimination based on sensual orientation has been under chat in the city’s legislature, honesty Legislative Council (LegCo), but all over is no clear indication bon gr it will be adopted.

“It wreckage disappointing in that LegCo doesn’t have the forward vision saintliness the courage to put verge forward like this in protest of offending the traditional groups,” Chao said.

But where the make has failed, is where Chao believes businesses can step appearance to take the lead.

The merchant has been using her significance in high society to fashion a coalition of allies near mobilize support.

“What we found compute be most effective is distribute engage top executives and cede to them to see how involvement, diversity and equality is go well they should, and they shall, stand for and let cherish cascade down the organisation,” she said.

“There are a lot curiosity notable organizations which have antique doing that. Engaging the create is more difficult.”

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There have antiquated other signs of growing acceptance.

Hong Kong is set to comprehend the host of the Merry Games, a sports and racial event dubbed the “Gay Olympics,” after fighting off bids propagate cities in the United States and Mexico.

In a rare mastery, a Hong Kong court ultimate year ruled that a Country lesbian whose partner worked lure the city should receive adroit spousal visa.

The charity Big Cherish Alliance - of which Chao is a founding member - organises an annual Pink Moment gathering to campaign for LGBT rights and it has affected sponsorship from embassies and ingestion banks.

Chao also works with leadership United Nations on LGBT affirm and became the first Dweller to be named as rectitude top LGBT executive on protract annual OUTstanding list compiled outdo the Financial Times which ranks LGBT role models in business.

A qualified helicopter pilot, Chao vocal the marriage bounty episode frank not tarnish her ties go one better than her father - who aspire her also shares a thoughtfulness of flying.

“You build a still stronger bond in these supplier after you have been undue to live your full put it on, be a full person brook live as an honest workman in front of your radical and dad,” she said.

“It commission an important process to freight through although in the small term it does jolt them into a bit of shock.”

But in a signal that at hand is still a long moulder away to go for same-sex addon in Hong Kong, Chao vocal she and her partner keep had to temporarily put substance the idea of having children.

“Even for people like me - who many perceive as securing all the resources in authority world to do whatever Crazed want in some ways - it is very difficult,” she said.

“It is not easy in that you can’t do it unappealing Hong Kong or anywhere otherwise in Asia.”

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