“Do people naked in the party all the time?”
Although not very well expressed, this a valid question if you’re about to attend your first sex party with the local “Swing & Bang Club”. The inquiry is but one of the many common concerns or misconceptions listed on the club’s FAQ-like page, along with “Can I do anything I want in sex party, just like people are having sex in adult movie?”, and “In sex party, most of men are abnormal and salacious, or most of women are fat and hungry in sex”.
The answer to all three is “no”. Partygoers begin clothed (and bathed), though if you feel like wearing your birthday suit you are free to do so. People must follow strict rules and must respect other people, including, of course, seeking clear consent before engaging in any act with another person. And lastly, members must go through an application process and though they may not look “perfect like superstars”, you can rest assured that “most of them are polite, tidy, and have good appearance”. In fact, another page says that people with “abnormal facial appearance” need not apply.
A forty-something local man named Chris started the Swing & Bang Club in 2007 just for fun, reports the SCMP. His current job allows him the freedom to run a sex club on the side (it probably looks great on his résumé, too), and since its small beginnings it’s grown to having 3,000 paying members.
In a society that is notorious for its lack of sexual satisfaction, or, well, of any sex at all, it is a little surprising that such a club would not only exist but also thrive. Actually, Chris says he knows of at least four other sex party groups in the city. According to Vox, a Durex study found only 32% of Hong Kong people report having exciting sex lives, which is more than only Japan. A 2011 study found that for Hongkongers between the ages of 36 and 80, men were totally ok with having sex 1.9 times per week, while women were satisfied with a measly 1.6 times a week. Another Durex survey revealed that 39% of Hong Kong people said they were sexually inactive.
“The aims and objectives of S&B are to provide a safe and rule-controlled environment for people who are interested in sex. Nobody is guaranteed any body contact with anyone in a party. Please respect yourself.”
That’s the official mission-statement of the club, which holds three to five “activities” every month, with each attracting anywhere between 8 and 20 people. Every sex party is themed—cosplay, bondage, “practical training”, or even “surprise activity” (for the most adventurous)—and are held at a variety of venues, from private flats to your good ol’ discrete hotel, and moving vehicles like yachts or buses. We would imagine the latter require extra core strength.
The members are carefully selected to maintain a gender balance as well as to ensure that they are neither unattractive nor creepy. Application requirements include a blood test (to keep the sex safe), a photo, and a detailed sexual history. The vast majority of posts on the forum appear to be in Chinese, possibly reflecting the mostly local and not expat composition of the club. (And for some reason, many appear to use photos of children as their profile pictures. Why, why?!)
Unsurprisingly, there are more men than women clamouring for admission to the club, so single women pay a smaller fee for events and are also given “medical and late taxi allowances”. But, if you’re an especially sexy or skilled dude who’s “appreciated by the ladies”, then there will be beneficiaries of “concession schemes”, which sound way too similar to government subsidy programmes for us. But despite a membership system that seems tiered and uber selective on paper, Chris told the SCMP that “as long as the personal has a good personality, we will accept them”.
Single men pay between HKD300 to HKD400, while women pay HKD100 to HKD200, according, although the (probably outdated) website says single men can be charged anywhere from HKD400 to HKD1,200, depending on the venue. The same page says couples pay half-price (presumably because they’re kind of like a two-for-one deal), and single ladies get to enjoy all the fun for free.
To ensure that all participants’ intentions and boundaries are loud and clear to others, the parties use a clever colour-coded bracelet system that signals whether they seek some one-on-one time or are willing to only kiss and touch but not to engage in any sexual activities.
Chris says that the mission of the Swing & Bang Club is to give members an inclusive, safe, and confidential outlet to explore their sexual fantasies. It seems like Chris is doing a good job of running the club in a safe and respectful manner, so hey, each to their own. He’s probably doing Hong Kong a favour!
