Hong Kong: Fetish Fashion forced to submit

Ms Scofield has lived in Hong Kong since 1977. For most of that time the mother of two worked as a schoolteacher with the English Schools Foundation. She was also prominent in theatrical circles.

But she is more widely known for her role as "Miss Whiplash", proprietor of the retail outlet and private dungeon that caters to people who fancy bondage, discipline and sadomasochism.

"This was never about making money," she explained. "It didn"t turn a profit. It would have been nice to have broken even.

"I didn"t care how many whips I sold. But I do care about helping people discover their inner selves."

The establishment closed on August 13. The closure was formally announced last month at one of the store's celebrated "play parties" where devotees of bondage and sado-masochism gather.

A closing sale was held to dispose of stock, which ranged from sex toys, lingerie and an extensive collection of whips, rods and leather straps.

There may be greater difficulty in finding buyers for a 3-metre long medieval cast-iron rack and a Catherine wheel on which people can be strapped and spun around. "Anybody want a slightly used, but well-loved, torture chamber?" Ms Scofield, also known as Decima, said with a smile. "We invested a great deal of money in equipment that is the finest in the world."

Ms Scofield also said she and her husband, Laurence, "not for one moment" thought of taking the easy way out and pleading guilty to government charges linked with BDSM parties they held at Fetish Fashions in 2001.

Along with Fetish Fashion manager Loretta Mui Shuk-han, the couple faced charges of keeping a disorderly house, charges never before prosecuted in Hong Kong. Ms Scofield and Ms Mui were also cleared of charges of managing an objectionable performance.

"Nobody has yet explained adequately why there was such an enormous undercover police investigation into a harmless group of people engaged in private activities or why the government decided to launch such expensive legal action. We are totally open and transparent about what we do. We"ve got no secrets, apart from the identities of our clients."

There were 23 of those customers - including a gaggle of policemen wearing government-provided kinky gear - at Fetish Fashion when it was raided in August 2001. All were arrested and spent many months on bail; they included a barrister, an engineer, an accountant and a businesswoman. All were released without charge.

Dismissing all charges, Magistrate Allan Wyeth said he felt unease in accepting police evidence.

After the verdict, there was widespread criticism about the investigation and prosecution.

Ms Scofield intends to continue as an adviser to people struggling to identify their sexual proclivities. She has lectured at several faculties at the University of Hong Kong and talked to health professionals, women"s and professional groups and international conferences.

Freed from managing the shop and organising the weekly "play parties" she will concentrate on counselling. One group she expects to advise is Hong Kong"s cross-dressers, men who delight in wearing women"s clothes.