Hong Kong leader calls on residents to be like 'mild and gentle' sheep
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Version 0 of 1. Hong Kong’s unpopular Beijing-backed leader has called on residents of the city, which was the scene of months of pro-democracy protests last year, to be more like “mild and gentle” sheep. Leung Chun-ying made the appeal in his lunar new year message to welcome in the year of the sheep, which begins on Thursday. The message reflects the fact that tensions continue to simmer after the protests ended in December without Leung, the city’s chief executive, offering any concessions to the student-led demonstrators. “Sheep are widely seen to be mild and gentle animals living peacefully in groups,” said Leung, who has been nicknamed “the wolf” by critics who see him as cunning and untrustworthy. “Last year was no easy ride for Hong Kong. Our society was rife with differences and conflicts. In the coming year, I hope that all people in Hong Kong will take inspiration from the sheep’s character and pull together in an accommodating manner to work for Hong Kong’s future,” Leung said in a statement. Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters occupied streets across the Asian financial hub for 11 weeks in the autumn, in what came to be known as the umbrella movement, punctuated by violent scuffles with police, who fired teargas and pepper spray. The activists were protesting against Beijing’s proposed curbs on planned 2017 elections for Leung’s replacement. |