HONG KONG: A nudist group is holding what it says is Hong Kong's first nude photographic competition to test whether attitudes towards the naked human body have changed in the decade since the city returned to Chinese rule.

Chairman of Body Arts Association Simon Cheung said yesterday the competition to mark the 10th anniversary of the handover had received more than 300 entries, with eight awards to be presented for the best photographs.

"We want to see how the public will respond to body arts 10 years since we returned to China. We want to see whether people are more conservative or more open about nudity," Cheung said.

Cheung had difficulties booking a venue six years ago when he organised a life-drawing contest. He now hopes the competition, to be held on June 16 when all the entries will be on display, will be trouble free.

Hong Kong is in some ways more conservative than mainland China, which has already staged nude photographic exhibitions.