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Leung was delivering a Lunar New Year message on Wednesday to
mark the Year of the Sheep, or Goat, in the Chinese calendar
that is based around 12 animals of the zodiac.
"Last year was no easy ride for Hong Kong. Our society was rife
with differences and conflicts," he said.
"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."
He described sheep as "widely seen to be mild and gentle animals
living peacefully in groups".
Chambers dictionary describes a sheep as "a creature that
follows meekly, is at the mercy of the wolf or the shearer and
displays tameness of spirit".
Chinese officials have repeatedly stressed the need for a
harmonious society in the former British colony, which returned
to Chinese rule in 1997.
Hong Kong returned to China under a "one country, two systems"
formula that gives the city more autonomy and freedom than the
mainland and a goal of universal suffrage.
But Beijing's refusal to grant a fully democratic election for
the city's leader in 2017 infuriates pro-democracy activists and
politicians who blame Leung for not standing up for their
rights.
(Writing by James Pomfret and Nick Macfie; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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