NGO director faces 32-month jail over indecent assault and child porn

The 46-year-old director of an ethnic minority rights organization was sentenced to 32 months behind bars for indecently assaulting two young girls of South Asian descent and photographing their private parts.

James Lung Wai-man, director of Hong Kong Community Development Network, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault, three counts of indecency with children under 16, one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. 

Lung appeared before Magistrate Sham Shiu-man at District Court today. 

Sham said that Lung’s sentence had a deterrent effect over his “abominable” actions, adding it was worrying that Lung had his own “hidden agenda” -- despite having devoted to the work that addresses the underprivileged groups in society. 

He lamented on Lung for “destroying his integrity for satisfying his selfish desire”, as the family of one of his victims, X, put trust in him by having him attended to X on several occasions. 

Sham said that X had developed symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder following Lung’s indecent assault on her, including damaged self-image and having trust issues with others.

He also said that X had been traumatized by the experience to a certain extent, and that the trauma may last forever with X. 

The court heard that Lung indecently assaulted then six-year-old X in the changing room of a swimming pool on one occasion between 2017 and 2018.

He indecently assaulted X again on a Friday this March and April 26 in a unit of Wing Lee Industrial Building on Tong Mi Road in Mong Kok. 

The court also heard that on one occasion between 2018 and 2019, Lung carried out indecency with three-year-old Y and videotaping her for producing child pornography in his Tsuen Wan apartment. 

Meanwhile, on May 17, he was found to be in possession of child pornography -- including 19 photos and a video. 

In mitigation, the defense counsel said that Lung fell in love with X and treated her as his girlfriend due to X’s company and her encouragement to his sick mother. 

But Magistrate Sham refuted the idea, saying it was just an excuse for Lung to commit the crime and Lung’s actions were committed out of “lust instead of love”. 

The defense also presented an apology letter by Lung to the court, which said that Lung, who had depression and sexual perversion, was deeply sorry over his actions towards victims X and Y.