Hong Kong's leader C.Y. Leung has reportedly urged the citizens of the region to "be more like sheep" on the occasion of Lunar New Year.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Leung, nicknamed "the wolf" by detractors, remarked that the last year "was no easy ride" for Hong Kong and exhorted people to draw inspiration from the sheep's character and pull together in an accommodating manner to work for Hong Kong's future in the coming year, reported the CNN.
"Sheep are widely seen to be mild and gentle animals living peacefully in groups," he explained.
The last year witnessed widespread demonstrations by activists in Hong Kong who protested against Beijing's decision to vet candidates in the 2017 elections and demanded "genuine democracy.