The Society For Truth And Light (STL, Chinese: 明光社) is a pressure group with an official mission of “address[ing] social ethics, media behaviour, and sex culture in Hong Kong” from a Christian Right point of view “to care the society and service people through research, monitoring, education and publishing.”
However, it has been widely criticised due to its conservative stances on social issues which also criticize by some Christians. In a heated debate between the group and its opponents, the group was mocked as being “moral terrorists” attempting to “Talibanize” the community.
History
The Society For Truth and Light was established in May 1997, led by Choi Chi-sum. The group positions itself as “conservative” and defines itself as the vanguard of upholding traditional values against the “trends of radical libertarianism, feminism and extreme individualism” in modern society.[citation needed] The society has opined on social problems concerning sex in recent years. For instance, it was quoted out of context[citation needed] in one newspaper that one of its founders believes that it is immoral for women to wear bikinis; and as Choi Chi-Sum as admitted in an interview, he believes that masturbation is immoral regardless of marital status . Gay rights groups and promoters of sex workers’ rights associate the group with Christian Rightists in United States.
Relationship with the authorities
While itself registered as a charity that raises fund through charity channels, the group received funding from government departments such as the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) of the Government of Hong Kong SAR through normal project bidding.
In a media report by the Next Magazine in June 2007, the reporter claimed that the founder and chief executive of the group, Choi Chi-Sum, admitted that TELA has channelled public funding to the group to generate complaints about “irresponsible media” through an orchestrated mass mailing campaign.
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