My Take | Baa humbug! Hong Kong people are nothing like sheep

Our chief executive seems to think it's the Year of the Sheep. Many Hong Kong people would think or at least act like it's the Year of the Ram.

In his controversial Lunar New Year greeting video, another storm in the teacup really, Leung Chun-ying urged Hongkongers to be more like yang, the Chinese character for sheep, rams, goats and even ewes. But from the rest of his message, it's clear Leung meant yang as sheep.

"The 12 Chinese zodiac animals represent 12 character types," he said. "Sheep are widely seen to be mild and gentle animals living peacefully in groups.

"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."

Clearly, he was describing the behaviour of sheep.

But most Hong Kong people are nothing like sheep. In fact, many are more like rams, if by that we mean the opposite of sheep in the characteristic of their behaviour.