Defendants: Lai Man-ling (D1), YEUNG Yat-yee Melody (D2), NG Hau-yi Sidney (D3), CHAN Yuen-sum Samuel (D4), and FONG Tsz-ho (D5)
Charge: Conspiracy to print, publish, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications
This was the first trial for conspiracy to publish seditious publications since Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China. The five defendants were executive council members of the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists ("GUHKST"). They faced one charge of conspiring to print, publish, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications, violating Sections 10(1)(c), 159A, and 159C of the Crimes Ordinance (Chapter 200).
Case Background:
During 2020 to 2021, the GUHKST published three children's picture books: "Defenders of Sheep Village," "12 Warriors of Sheep Village," and "Cleaners of Sheep Village."
"Defenders of Sheep Village" used the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests as background, depicting the Chinese Communist regime as wolves and Hong Kong people as sheep. The story described two villages - one inhabited by kind sheep and another by evil wolves. When the shepherd protecting the sheep suddenly left, the wolf village sent a big gray wolf to lead the sheep and implemented "wolf-sheep rules" allowing wolves to eat sheep at will, resulting in the sheep's rebellion. The book included a timeline of the anti-extradition bill events with corresponding page numbers. It ended by asking readers: "If you were a sheep, would you bravely continue to defend your home?"
"12 Warriors of Sheep Village" portrayed sheep becoming united and brave against wolves. The wolf leader, worried about losing control over the sheep, ordered the killing of the 12 bravest sheep. These 12 sheep tried to escape but failed and were captured. The names of the 12 sheep matched those of 12 fugitives in a border-crossing case, which critics said glorified the fugitives as heroes who were persecuted and forced to leave Hong Kong. The story concluded by asking readers: "If you were a sheep, would you do everything possible to save the twelve warriors?"
"Cleaners of Sheep Village" continued depicting mainland Chinese as wolves and Hong Kong people as sheep, using the February 2020 medical workers' strike during the COVID-19 pandemic as background. The story described wolves making a "hole" in the sheep village, with dirty wolves constantly entering and leaving, littering and spitting everywhere. The sheep went on strike demanding border closure to prevent wolves from entering. This referenced the 2020 COVID-19 situation when mainland visitors were blamed for bringing the virus to Hong Kong, leading to medical workers striking for border closure.
The prosecution alleged that between June 4, 2020 (when the first book was published) and July 22, 2021 (their arrest date), the five defendants, under the union's name, arranged to print, publish, distribute, display and/or reproduce the three books with seditious intent. The court found all defendants guilty of publishing the books with seditious intent.
The court ruled that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that each defendant's role showed they had agreed to print, publish, distribute, display and/or reproduce the three books between June 4, 2020, and July 22, 2021, knowing they were or would be seditious publications. They intended to execute this agreement, during which books 1-3 were published and book 4 was in preparation.
In his verdict, National Security Law designated judge Kwok Wai-kin noted that seditious intent came not just from the text but from its effect on children's minds. The defendants were found to have brainwashed young readers through books intended to harm the Hong Kong and central government. The books' endings asking children how to deal with wolves, with some children answering "fight," showed how the books planted hatred in children's minds. Additionally, the books were widely distributed, with the first book having 3,000 copies distributed through 75 district council offices and organizations, and the defendants continued publishing two more books after the National Security Law's implementation. All five defendants were sentenced to 19 months imprisonment.
December 2024
Dr. Anthony Lai and Mr. Herbert Kwoon
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