Prasannkumar 
Five people are found guilty in Hong Kong of sedition for publishing sheep books.
Five people are found guilty in Hong Kong of sedition for publishing sheep books.
They will be sentenced Saturday to two years imprisonment for publishing books explaining the democracy movement to children.
Five Hong Kong speech therapists were found guilty of sedition after they illustrated books for children that depicted city democracy supporters as sheep protecting their village from wolves.
Prosecutors claimed that the three picture books were meant to explain Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement to children and to stir up hatred and opposition to government policies.
Lorie Lai and Melody Yeung, Sidney Ng, and Samuel Chan, all aged between 25-28, were all members of a speech therapy union and had pleaded not guilty.
When proceedings began in July, they chose not to testify or summon witnesses.
Their lawyers argued that sedition was not clearly defined and that readers should be able to decide for themselves what the characters in their books represent.
They warned that a guilty verdict could further criminalize political criticism, and chill society.
This is the first time a case involving a seditious publication has been brought to trial following the 2019 protests in the territory and Beijing’s imposition of a national security law the year after. Before the mass protests, the sedition law, which dates back to colonial times was not used.
The charges are for three books that were aimed at children between 4 and 7 years of age: The Guardians of Sheep Village and The 12 Heroes of Sheep Village.
The plots are based on several real-life events including the 2019 protests and the failed attempt of 12 protesters by speedboat to flee Taiwan to Taiwan. Also, the strike of medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic called for Hong Kong’s closure of its borders with China.
Kwok Wai Kin, District Court Judge, stated in a written summary that all three books were seditious. He said it was not just from the words, but the words with the prohibited effects intended for the children.
“They will be told they are sheep and that the wolves are trying to harm them is the PRC (People’s Republic of China Government) Government,” said Kwok. He is part of a panel of national security judges selected by the leader of the city.
They will be sentenced Saturday. A sentence of up to 2 years imprisonment is possible under the sedition law.
“Writing books for children does not amount to a crime. Attempting to educate children about recent events from Hong Kong’s past does not amount to an attempt to incite violence.”
Hong Kong was a place where freedom of expression was a great deal before the introduction of security laws. It also had thriving media and publishing industries.
However, many outlets have had to close in the wake of the 2019 protests. Books were removed from libraries and school curriculums were revised to include lessons about the security law for children aged 6 and under.
Many politicians and activists for democracy are currently in prison, awaiting trial, or fled abroad. Numerous civil society groups including multiple trade unions have also closed.
Only “patriots”, or people who are deemed to be patriotic, can hold office in Hong Kong.
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