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Leticia Lee
Lee in 2013
Born	(1964-08-17)17 August 1964
Died	16 December 2020(2020-12-16) (aged 56) Yuen Long, Hong Kong
Nationality	Hong Kong permanent resident
Occupation	Government/police supporter

Leticia Lee See-yin (Chinese: 李偲嫣; pinyin: Lǐ Sīyān, 17 August 1964 – 16 December 2020) was an outspoken pro-establishment figure in Hong Kong. She held several positions, including the chairperson of the Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of Yau Tsim Mong District, the spokeswoman of the anti-gay organisation "Anti-Reverse Discrimination League" (反逆向歧視大聯盟), as well as the vice chairperson of Hong Kong Education Dynamic, director of Hong Kong New Power Media Limited, the chief editor of the Christian publication Love Family Weekly (distributed free of charge in all Sun Hung Kai Properties shopping malls), and a member of the pro-Beijing Kowloon Federation of Associations and Women's Commission. She commented openly on Hong Kong's education and moral issues often arousing controversy.

Activism

Lee held several positions, including the chairperson of the Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of Yau Tsim Mong District, the spokeswoman of the anti-gay organisation "Anti-Reverse Discrimination League" (反逆向歧視大聯盟), as well as the vice chairperson of Hong Kong Education Dynamic, director of Hong Kong New Power Media Limited, the chief editor of the Christian publication Love Family Weekly (distributed free of charge in all Sun Hung Kai Properties shopping malls), and a member of the pro-Beijing Kowloon Federation of Associations and Women's Commission.

National education

Lee was an adamant advocate of the highly controversial moral and national education (MNE) program in Hong Kong, which was proposed in 2011 but was later shelved due to heated public criticism. "If we back down on the 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." In a special meeting of the Legislative Council on 27 June 2011, Lee suggested that the Administration 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.

In addition to the aspect of students, she stressed the importance of providing teachers with adequate teaching resources on MNE to ensure the quality of teaching. She also added that the Administration should attach importance to moral education which should be taught in schools starting from junior primary levels.

Sexual orientation discrimination legislation

Lee complained that legislation against sexual orientation discrimination might make it illegal for schools – especially religious ones – to teach that homosexuality is wrong.

Lee had sought talks with the Family Planning Association which she said publishes booklets advocating same-sex marriage. She objected that they were saying it was fine to be gay and that the booklets would brainwash impressionable children.

Lee also wrote many articles on the website of anti-gay religious group the Society for Truth and Light. At a concert in January, she said she had received many calls after she opposed a motion calling for public consultation on the proposed new law.

Anti-Occupy Central

As a pro-establishment activist, Lee organised a number of social movements so as to support the Hong Kong government and Police Force and to protest against the Occupy Central movement.

Justice Alliance

Lee, as then convenor of Justice Alliance (established on 27 October 2013), began an 'indefinite hunger strike' on 22 June 2014 at government headquarters at Tamar, in order 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. 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 only lasted three days since she "passed out" on 25 June and was sent to hospital that night.

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

Alliance in support of our Police Force

There was an increasing level of discontent on Hong Kong Police Force among the society 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. 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.

The 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.

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 offered that they were isolated incidents.

Failed 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. Lee received 2,938 votes (0.5 per cent of votes cast in the constituency) and was not elected.

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. Lee agreed with the facts of the case against her. She was given a bind-over order.

Death

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

References

• This article draws some information from the corresponding article in Chinese Misplaced Pages.

1. ^ 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.
2. "Panel on Education-Minutes of special meeting" (PDF). Legislative council. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
3. "Anger over 'brainwashing' class shows distrust of 'two systems'". Time Out. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
4. "Hong Kong's LGBT community seeks ban on discrimination". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
5. "Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association under fire over sexuality counselling". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
6. "【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 (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
7. "Striker finds 'support' can be hard to stomach". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
8. 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.
9. "「撐警大聯盟」籲尊重警方". 都市日報. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
10. Chan, Wilfred (4 August 2015). "'Breasts are not weapons,' say Hong Kong protesters". Hong Kong: CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
11. "Hong Kong Is Bracing Itself for More Anti-Occupy Violence". Time. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
12. "A city divided: Occupy protest and rally by opponents mark a society split by politics". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
13. ^ "Leticia Lee denies corruption charge". The Standard. 23 November 2018.
14. "Election Results". 2016 Legislative Council Election. Registration and Electoral Office. 5 September 2016.
15. Cheng, Kris (10 October 2018). "Pro-Beijing activist Leticia Lee charged by anti-corruption agency over election donations". Hong Kong Free Press.
16. Cheng, Kris (25 February 2019). "Pro-Beijing activist Leticia Lee handed bind-over order over election corruption case". Hong Kong Free Press.
17. "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 (Hong Kong)). 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
18. Ho, Kelly (16 December 2020). "Hong Kong pro-Beijing activist Leticia Lee dies aged 56 – reports". Hong Kong Free Press.
19. "Avid pro-establishment supporter Leticia Lee died of coronavirus". The Standard. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.

• 1964 births
• 2020 deaths
• Parent education program
• Hong Kong activists
• Hong Kong Protestants
• Hong Kong women in politics
• Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
• People charged with corruption
• Anti-same-sex-marriage activists