UK MP calls for probe into former leader’s criticism of Hong Kong children’s event

Leung Chun-ying’s comments linked to British church’s cancellation of ‘Sheep Village’ workshop in May.

The poster for the “Sheep Village Day Camp” children’s event, which was held this past weekend, in the London borough of Sutton.

A British lawmaker has called on the country’s intelligence and security services to investigate after a senior Chinese government adviser and former leader of Hong Kong criticized a pro-democracy children’s event held in the United Kingdom, Radio Free Asia has learned.

Paul Scully, MP for the south London borough of Sutton, said he had informed security minister Tom Tugendhat, foreign affairs minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Foreign Security James Cleverly after former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying posted about a pro-democracy children’s day-camp that took place in his constituency at the weekend.

The move comes after a church in the southern British town of Guildford canceled the same event — which uses stories about a village of sheep to teach children about justice, civil liberties and human rights — in May, following public criticism from Leung.

In a July 28 post to his Facebook page, Leung – who is vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a parliamentary advisory body – posted a copy of the poster for the Aug. 5 “Sheep Village Day Camp” event with the comment: “Sheep Village is not giving up. Parents should pay attention.”

Leung’s public criticism comes amid growing concerns over Chinese Communist Party infiltration of all aspects of British life, and warnings from Hong Kongers in exile over growing acts of violence by Beijing supporters and officials alike.

Scully attended Saturday’s event along with the leader of Sutton Council, Ruth Dombey, and a police representative. 

“Lovely event at #Sutton #Library celebrating with our #HongKong friends and their children,” Dombey tweeted, while the Sutton Hong Kong Culture & Arts Society confirmed that Scully and “Kimberley” from the local police had also attended.

“They assured the people of Hong Kong that they would ensure that Hong Kong people’s rights to freedom of expression and democracy will not be affected,” the group said via its Facebook page.

The British government said in February that 144,500 people emigrated to the United Kingdom on its BNO visa scheme, which includes a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship, which has prompted retaliation from Beijing.

Targeted by state agents

Yet overseas activists still report being targeted by agents and supporters of the Chinese state, including secret Chinese police stations in a number of countries.

Sutton-based Hong Konger Richard Choi said Leung’s post had sparked further concerns among Hong Kongers living in the area that their freedom of speech may not be protected – even now that they have settled in the United Kingdom.

“These comments by the former chief executive look like a threat,” Choi said. “The participants were concerned that there could be some risk, that something could happen, and that they will become a focus.”

“They were even afraid of a threat to their safety – perhaps someone might use their phone to record or take photos and post it to social media platforms, causing them unnecessary trouble,” he said.

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Last month, Hampshire police charged Zheng Gong, 23, with “racially aggravated assault” in connection with a vial video clip of an attack on Hong Kongers in the southern port city of Southampton on June 11, after they had attended a rally marking the anniversary of the 2019 protest movement.

According to an email reply from Scully posted by Choi to a local Hong Kong community group chat, Scully informed Tugendhat, Trevelyan and Cleverly of Leung’s ongoing criticism, calling on security services to take the matter up.

Dombey replied by email saying that she was “very worried” by Leung’s comments, and had made local officials aware of the incident.

Trevelyan’s secretary also responded, confirming that the incident would be reported to senior Foreign Office officials.

The Sheep Village Day Camp takes its inspiration from a banned series of children’s books by the same name, whose five authors were jailed in 2022 for 19 months each under British colonial-era sedition laws.

Rapid response

Choi said he had contacted the district council and the local police.

“Everyone was very aware of the issue, from the leader of council to the MP and the police,” he said. 

“They all responded very quickly, expressing their concern and support, and saying again that they want to make sure Hong Kongers living here are safe.”

Isaac Cheng, founder and director of Kongtinue, said he had planned to use the Sheep Village books to illustrate the impact of an unjust society on a person’s life through game-playing.

He said the cancellation of the Guildford event was likely directly linked to Leung’s Facebook post, and that several other exile groups had been unwilling to hold the event when he tried to set up a new event.

Cheng welcomed the rapid response from local representatives and officials.

“The support was very strong,” he said. “I didn’t expect a day workshop event to attract the attention of the MP or the leader of the council.”

“This sent out a positive message to Hong Kongers that everyone will work together to ensure that Hong Kongers have freedom of expression in the United Kingdom,” Cheng said.

Choi had said in an interview on Friday that Saturday’s event would go ahead as scheduled, with the organizers making sure that only bona fide attendees were allowed in.

The taking of photos and shooting of video would be banned at the venue, he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.