Leticia Lee

Leticia Lee See-yin (Chinese: 李偲嫣; pinyin: Lǐ Sīyān, 17 August 1964 – 16 December 2020) was an outspoken pro-Beijing figure in Hong Kong. She held several positions at various political and activist organisations in Hong Kong.

Leticia Lee
Lee in 2013
Born(1964-08-17)17 August 1964
British Hong Kong
Died16 December 2020(2020-12-16) (aged 56)
Yuen Long, Hong Kong
NationalityHong Kong
Other namesSee Yin BB
Years active2012-2020
Known forOpponent of Umbrella Movement and supporter of Hong Kong Police

Activism

Lee held several positions, including the chairperson of the Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of Yau Tsim Mong District,[1] the spokeswoman of the anti-gay organisation "Anti-Reverse Discrimination League" (反逆向歧視大聯盟),[2][3] as well as the chief editor of the Christian publication Love Family Weekly (distributed free of charge in all Sun Hung Kai Properties shopping malls),[4] and a member of the women's commission of the pro-Beijing Kowloon Federation of Associations, providing advice on education policy.[3] She was previously employed by LegCo member Priscilla Leung as a part-time consultant.[5]

National education

Lee was an adamant advocate of the highly controversial moral and national education (MNE) programme in Hong Kong, which was proposed in 2011 but was later shelved due to heated public criticism. "If we back down on the [implementation of] moral and national education subject, I don't know what our society, our children will see themselves as in the future," she said at a pro-national education rally in October. "We are always Chinese. Our root is always China."[6] In a special meeting of the Legislative Council on 27 June 2011, Lee suggested that the government could consider implementing MNE as a core extracurricular activity or a monthly small-group learning activity, and students should not be examined on the subject.[7] She stressed the importance of providing teachers with adequate teaching resources on MNE to ensure the quality of teaching. She also added that the government should attach importance to moral education which should be taught in schools starting from junior primary levels.[8]

Opposition to anti-LGBT discrimination legislation

Lee was accused of promoting homophobic opinions. She claimed that legislation against sexual orientation discrimination might make it illegal for schools – especially religious ones – to "teach that homosexuality is wrong".[9] She had sought talks with the Family Planning Association which she said publishes booklets advocating same-sex marriage. She considered that the booklets would brainwash impressionable children.[10] She also wrote many articles on the website of anti-gay Christian right group the Society For Truth And Light. At a concert in January 2013, she said she had received many calls after she opposed a motion calling for public consultation on the proposed new law.[6]

Anti-Occupy Central

As a pro-establishment activist, Lee organised a number of movements in support of the Hong Kong government and police and to protest the Occupy Central movement.

Justice Alliance

Lee, as convenor of Justice Alliance (established on 27 October 2013, which was organised to support Hong Kong Police), began an 'indefinite hunger strike' on 22 June 2014 at the Central Government Complex in Tamar, to voice her opposition to Occupy Central and urge a stricter government response to it and the protest organised by the pan-democrats earlier that month inside the Legislative Council building.[11] She said during the hunger strike, "Protesters don't think they are violent since they have something to voice out. Does that mean they can rob if they have no money, and do such acts in the name of justice?" The hunger strike lasted three days; she was hospitalised on 25 June.[12]

On 2 March 2016, the Justice Alliance announced the expulsion of Lee, its president, on the grounds of embezzlement.[13]

Alliance in Support of Our Police Force

There was an increasing level of discontent in society regarding the Hong Kong Police Force due to the methods used by the police to deal with the pan-democratic protests and the controversy on whether the police violated the rule on using minimum force. In response to rising social discontent aimed at the Police Force after its use of force against democracy protests, Lee established Alliance in Support of our Police Force in early July 2014.[14] Its stated aim was to support the police to enforce the law. She served as one of its convenors. A demonstration was held on 3 August 2014 in support of the police and the organisation set 4 August as the 'Support the Police Force Day'.. On the first anniversary of that day, the alliance was not reported to have turned out in support of police to face down 200 protesters incensed by a magistrate's conviction of a woman protester for assaulting a male police officer with her breast.[15]

Following the 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest, the Alliance in Support of our Police Force organised a pro-police rally in Mong Kok, during which Lee called the previous week's unrest a "planned, rioting terrorist attack". There was a row during the demonstration as several of her fellow protesters accused her of fraudulently handling donations to the group. Lee denied the accusations.[16]

Blue Ribbon Movement

Lee was also the convenor of the Blue Ribbon Movement. This movement was formed as a response to the wearing of yellow ribbons by supporters of Occupy Central. The wearing of a blue ribbon in Hong Kong symbolised opposition to the Occupy Central democracy movement and support for the Hong Kong Police Force. A number of incidents were reported involving Blue Ribbon Movement supporters attacking protestors participating in Occupy Central, as well as news reporters.[17]

On 25 October 2014, a gathering was held by the anti-Occupy Central organisations, while reports claimed that reporters from Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) were attacked by those who supported anti-Occupy Central. Responding to the incident, Lee, who had helped organise the Tsim Sha Tsui event, condemned the attackers but described the attacks as isolated incidents.[18]

Political career and corruption charges

Lee ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 Hong Kong legislative election. She declared her candidacy in the New Territories East constituency on 24 July 2016. The election was held on 4 September.[19] Lee received 2,938 votes (0.5 per cent of votes cast in the constituency) and was not elected.[20]

Lee was accused of corruption during the election. In October 2018, she was charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) with failing to dispose of certain donated funds in accordance with election laws.[21] Lee agreed with the facts of the case against her. She was given a bind-over order.[19][22]

Personal life

Lee married Gary Tse Shing-chun, a staff member of the Hong Kong College of Technology, in 2018.[23] She had a son from a previous marriage.[24]

Lee died on 16 December 2020 at Pok Oi Hospital.[25][26] She preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 before her death.[27]

References
  • This article draws some information from the corresponding article in Chinese Wikipedia.
  1. "一心二用免浪費". Ming pao. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. "反駁「反逆向歧視大聯盟」公開信謬論". VJmedia. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  3. 翟睿敏 (16 December 2020). "01消息：「藍營」名人李偲嫣突離世 新冠肺炎病毒初步陽性". 香港01 (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  4. "辦網媒找李偲嫣任CEO 張俊勇遭問：係咪傻架". Sing Tao Daily (in Chinese). 8 November 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. "家長會李偲嫣受聘梁美芬". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  6. Zhao, Shirley; Lam, Jeffie (6 August 2013). "Feisty parent who said teacher had 'emotional problems' is used to courting controversy". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  7. "Panel on Education-Minutes of special meeting" (PDF). Legislative council. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  8. "Anger over 'brainwashing' class shows distrust of 'two systems'". Time Out. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  9. "Hong Kong's LGBT community seeks ban on discrimination". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  10. "Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association under fire over sexuality counselling". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  11. "【短片】李偲嫣絕筆：願犧牲來成就大家直到神重召靈魂 ｜ 蘋果日報". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  12. "Striker finds 'support' can be hard to stomach". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  13. Wong, Hermina (2 March 2016). "Pro-BJ Justice Alliance expels president Leticia Lee over alleged embezzlement of funds". Hong Kong Free Press. Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  14. "「撐警大聯盟」籲尊重警方". 都市日報. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  15. Chan, Wilfred (4 August 2015). "'Breasts are not weapons,' say Hong Kong protesters". Hong Kong: CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  16. Wong, Hermina (15 February 2016). "Hundreds join pro-police demonstration against Mong Kok 'rioters', say police". Hong Kong Free Press.
  17. "Hong Kong Is Bracing Itself for More Anti-Occupy Violence". Time. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  18. "A city divided: Occupy protest and rally by opponents mark a society split by politics". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  19. "Leticia Lee denies corruption charge". The Standard. 23 November 2018.
  20. "Election Results". 2016 Legislative Council Election. Registration and Electoral Office. 5 September 2016.
  21. Cheng, Kris (10 October 2018). "Pro-Beijing activist Leticia Lee charged by anti-corruption agency over election donations". Hong Kong Free Press.
  22. Cheng, Kris (25 February 2019). "Pro-Beijing activist Leticia Lee handed bind-over order over election corruption case". Hong Kong Free Press.
  23. "Wedding on way for Leticia Lee". The Standard. 30 November 2017.
  24. "Son of activist Leticia Lee acquitted of assaulting stepfather". The Standard. 4 September 2020.
  25. "李偲嫣猝死後初步確診武肺 4日前fb最後發帖狠批梁頌恆諷刺黎智英 ｜ 蘋果日報". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  26. Ho, Kelly (16 December 2020). "Hong Kong pro-Beijing activist Leticia Lee dies aged 56 – reports". Hong Kong Free Press.
  27. "Avid pro-establishment supporter Leticia Lee died of coronavirus". The Standard. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
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