`` Patting , touching , kissing and pinching . '' As many of us probably suspect -- and as a number of books about the industry have suggested -- flight attendants are often the target of unwanted attention . Now a survey puts hard numbers -- and descriptions such as the one above -- to the sexual harassment encountered by flight attendants while on-duty . The Hong Kong-based Equal Opportunities Commission ( EOC ) announced its findings in a press release on Thursday . Conducted in partnership with the Hong Kong Flight Attendants Alliance ( HKFAA ) , the survey results are based on 392 responses to 9,000 questionnaires distributed between November 2013 and January 2014 among employees of the HKFAA 's member airlines , including Cathay Pacific , Dragonair , British Airways and United Airlines . Of survey respondents , 86 % were female and 14 % were male . EOC spokesperson Mariana Law told CNN that the percentage of respondents was low likely for two reasons . `` Most HKFAA flight attendants are not based in Hong Kong , so it may be difficult for them to respond , '' said Law . `` Another reason is that some people may consider sexual harassment an embarrassing or difficult subject and they may not feel comfortable disclosing this information to others . '' Among the report 's findings : . • About 27 % of the respondents ( 29 % of women , 17 % of males ) reported being sexually harassed while on-duty in-flight in the last twelve months . • Sexual harassment experienced by flight attendants was mostly manifested in the form of physical contact , described as `` patting , touching , kissing or pinching . '' • Other forms of sexual harassment encountered included lewd jokes , `` staring in a sexual way , '' `` showing obscene or pornographic materials '' and explicit requests for sexual favors . • About 59 % of the sexual harassment came from customers , about 41 % from fellow workers , including senior cabin crew and cockpit members . According to the EOC , flight attendants and the airlines that employ them are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment initiated by passengers or clients . `` There is currently no legal provision protecting providers of goods , services and facilities against sexual harassment by their customers , '' said Dr. John Tse Wing-ling , who leads the EOC 's Policy and Research Committee . `` In this connection , the EOC urges the ( Hong Kong ) Government to extend the coverage of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance to protect service providers against sexual harassment by customers , which the EOC has long recommended . '' According to the EOC , most international airlines have a policy statement on sexual harassment .
Hong Kong Flight Safety Association sent survey to its staff members . Sexual harassment mostly manifested in form of unwanted physical contact . About 59 % of the sexual harassment came from customers , about 41 % from fellow workers . In Hong Kong , no legal framework protects employees against sexual harassment by customers .