imprisonment. Discrimination Direct and indirect discrimination based on a person's HIV status is unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (Cap. 487). Direct discrimination occurs when a person with HIV is treated less favourably than another person without HIV in similar circumstances. Indirect discrimination occurs when a condition is applied to everyone, but in practice affects persons with HIV more adversely, and the condition cannot be justified. Harassment, vilification, and victimisation are also unlawful. Privacy Article 14 of the Bill of Rights states that "no person shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with [their] privacy and that everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference". At common law and under the Code of Professional Conduct of the Medical Council of Hong Kong, a doctor generally must not disclose information about patients obtained in the course of professional duties. Public awareness and stigma A 2021 study involving college students in Hong Kong concluded that there was a "moderate" level of HIV awareness among respondents who were asked a series of questions on HIV-related knowledge. The study found that certain misconceptions about HIV transmission still exist, including 60% who failed to recognise that anal sex is the primary route of HIV transmission and 50% who believed that HIV could be transmitted via insects or sharing a toothbrush. According to the study, the results suggest that there have been no significant improvements in awareness over the preceding two decades. The same study found that among the college student participants, most reported "an accepting, instead of stigmatizing, attitude toward people with HIV". Over 60% of participants agreed with statements such as "I am willing to accept people with HIV and be their friend" and "I am willing to do sports/shake hands with people with HIV". Fewer (29.7%) participants agreed with statements indicating stigma, with only 11.2% agreeing that "I think that taking an HIV test is disgraceful" and 15.4% agreeing that "I think AIDS is a punishment from god". See also HIV/AIDS in China HIV/AIDS in Asia HIV/AIDS global epidemic LGBT rights in Hong Kong LGBT culture in Hong Kong Human rights in Hong Kong References HIV/AIDS in China