All that glass attracts a different kind of browser
Modern buildings make women vulnerable to voyeurs, says DAB as it names the black spots
Women shopping in the city's modern malls with their large glass panels and high-rise escalators should be aware that these places attract voyeurs.
They are vulnerable from above and below as voyeuristic men can sneak peeks through the glass panels installed beside escalators and railings, warned Elizabeth Quat, chairwoman of the Women's Affairs Committee of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
The committee has identified 21 of these places which it called black spots for peeping toms. Among them are nine shopping malls, five MTR stations and two public libraries.
Popular malls like Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing, Hysan Place in Causeway Bay and Harbour City and Silvercord in Tsim Sha Shui are on the list. The other places are East Point City, Metro City Plaza II and Pop Corn in Tseung Kwan O, Metroplaza in Kwai Fong and Tai Po Centre.
The two public libraries are the Central Library in Causeway Bay and Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library.
The MTR stations are Tiu Keng Leng, Tin Shui Wai, Long Ping, Kam Sheung Road and Hung Hom.
Other vulnerable spots are the bleachers of the swimming pool in the amenities block of Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai, Citibank in Mong Kok, UNIQLO and Apple in Causeway Bay and G2000 in Mong Kok.
"We are especially concerned about the public libraries, as many female students wearing school uniforms go to these places," said Quat. The black spots were identified by the committee after receiving complaints from the public. The number has tripled from seven last year.
Quat said that they advised the building owners or management of these places to make the glass panels opaque last year but most of them refused to do so.
"Most of them said they had not received any complaints from clients and some said that their design was a neat and transparent one," she said.
Most women might not be aware that pictures of them had been taken and uploaded to a website, Quat said.
She warned voyeurs that taking unauthorised photos of people and uploading them to a website was an offence and carried a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
