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-38- political agenda to overthrow the current regime. Leung’s agreement with Wong’s words provided an important message: that is how Leung saw the Slogan and how he saw his political ideal. In addition, the use of the 8 characters by Leung followed the customary usage of these words or compound words in history.

111. Professor Lau also considered the use of the Slogan on 21 July 2019 outside the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (“LOCPG”) where there was damage caused to the National Emblem and the facilities of LOCPG. Professor Lau pointed out that the predecessor to the LOCPG was the Hong Kong branch of Xinhua News Agency (新華社), which was an official body of the CPG stationed in Hong Kong. Since its establishment in May 1947, Xinhua News Agency performed the role of an important bridge for exchange and cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and it was a representation and symbol of the PRC and the CPG in Hong Kong. By damaging the National Emblem and the facilities of the LOCPG and with the usage of the words on 21 July 2019, the words were suggestive of rejecting the governance of the PRC Government. In the circumstances, Professor Lau opined that the context in which the words were used had been consistent before and after, and had never had any obvious change.

112. Professor Lau further opined that the report compiled by the police (to be dealt with at paragraphs 117 to 121 below) is relevant material for considering the meaning of the Chinese Slogan at the material time. According to the report, the Slogan was very much related to words associated with secession and subversion; and the Slogan