Hong Kong tycoon's gay daughter asks him to accept girlfriend

[News_Editor]

HONG KONG (BNO NEWS) -- The daughter of a Hong Kong businessman, who last week suggested raising his controversial 'marriage bounty' to 1 billion Hong Kong dollars (128.7 million U.S. dollars), has defended her sexuality in an open letter and asked her father to treat her long-time girlfriend as a "normal, dignified human being."

Gigi Chao, 33, who is an executive director at her father's Cheuk Nang property development company and a founding member of a local gay rights group, published the letter on late Tuesday after her father, 77-year-old Cecil Chao Sze-tsung, told a Malaysian newspaper that he was considering to double his offer for any man who can successfully woo his daughter.

"I am sorry that people have been saying insensitive things about you lately," she wrote in the letter. "The truth is, they don't understand that I will always forgive you for thinking the way you do, because I know you think you are acting in my best interests. And we both don't care if anybody else understands."

Gigi Chao said she wants "nothing more" than to make her father happy, but told him that his expectations in terms of relationships are not coherent. "My regret is that you have no idea how happy I am with my life, and there are aspects of my life that you don't share," she wrote.

The daughter, who is in a long-term relationship with a woman, Sean Eav, but has in the past been in relationships with men, blamed herself for making her father believe that she was only with a woman because there was a "shortage of good, suitable men" in Hong Kong. "I've broken a few hearts, hearts of good, honest and loving men, and I'm sorry that it had to be so," she said.

Now, Gigi Chao hopes her father will finally accept her as a lesbian, saying she is "comfortable and satisfied" with the life she shares with her girlfriend. "I'm not asking you to be best of friends. However, it would mean the world to me if you could just not be so terrified of her, and treat her like a normal, dignified human being," she said, adding: "There are plenty of good men, they are just not for me."

The father and daughter made headlines around the world in 2012 when Cecil Chao Sze-tsung offered 500 million Hong Kong dollars (64 million U.S. dollars) for any man who is able to successfully woo his daughter. But after more than 20,000 unsuccessful responses, his father indicated this month that he may double his offer.

Cecil Chao Sze-tsung told the Financial Times in January 2013 that he was not so much offended by his daughter's sexuality, but that he wants grandchildren to whom he can pass on his business. The property tycoon, described as a lifelong bachelor who once claimed to have slept with more than 10,000 women, is said to be one of Hong Kong's richest men.

(Copyright 2014 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)

[Scott]

Moved to the gay forum.

[simon43]

Jeez! 1 billion HK dollars...

Any ideas what I can do to win this lady's heart? I have a few obstacles to overcome, notably my gender.....

[sustento]

Let me give you a clue - I know it might not sink in but SHE'S A LESBIAN - SHE'S SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO WOMEN - SHE DOESN'T FANCY MEN!!!!!!!!!!

Any better now?

[isanbirder]

The Chao family are notorious publicity hounds. Nothing they do surprises Hong Kong people.

Cecil Chao's got a cheek; he's never married himself... and yet he tries to coerce his bastard daughter to marry.

[simon43]

Let me give you a clue - I know it might not sink in but SHE'S A LESBIAN - SHE'S SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO WOMEN - SHE DOESN'T FANCY MEN!!!!!!!!!!

Was that comment directed at me? Do you know the meaning of 'gender'? Howabout 'sarcasm'?

Duh!!!

[isanbirder]

Gigi was interviewed on the BBC today. I said they were publicity hounds!

[Chicog]

if I were her I'd marry quick, pocket the cash then get a quickie divorce.

Easy money.

[Scott]

For some reason, I don't think money is a big issue.

[onthemoon]

The Chao family are notorious publicity hounds. Nothing they do surprises Hong Kong people.

Cecil Chao's got a cheek; he's never married himself... and yet he tries to coerce his bastard daughter to marry.

I have a feeling she inherited the cheekiness.

[onthemoon]

Jeez! 1 billion HK dollars...

Any ideas what I can do to win this lady's heart? I have a few obstacles to overcome, notably my gender.....

You have answered your own question: Change your gender first, then try. I hear that Thailand is leading in GRS (Gender Reassignment Surgery).

Good luck. In fact, I have no hopes for you but I want to see you try...

[onthemoon]

For some reason, I don't think money is a big issue.

For the suiters, it seems to be.

[isanbirder]

For some reason, I don't think money is a big issue.

For the suiters, it seems to be.

Yes, I wonder why Cecil Chao doesn't find some incentive for her to marry. Money certainly won't do it; she has oodles herself.

[isanbirder]

More about Gigi Chao, who really doesn't need any more publicity.

But also interesting about the state of play for gay rights in Hong Kong. Homosexuality wasn't decriminalised until 1991, though I lived there in an openly gay relationship for 14 years before that without harassment of any sort. Not long before that, however, a gay expat policeman allegedly committed suicide with five shots to the head; you may believe the official line or not, as you wish.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-26254137

[Scott]

Troll post removed.