Minority rights helper caught in shocking child sex case

A defender of ethnic minority rights said he considered a six-year-old girl his "girlfriend" after pleading guilty to seven charges including indecent conduct towards young children and possession of child pornography.

James Lung Wai-man, chairman of the Southern Democratic Alliance, pleaded guilty to gross indecency towards two underaged girls who were six and three at the time.

In all, the 46-year-old Lung admitted seven charges - three counts of indecent conduct towards a child under the age of 16 years, two of indecent assault, one of producing child pornography and one of possessing child pornography - when he went before District Court judge Sham Siu-man.

In mitigation, his counsel said Lung committed the offenses as he has a strong love for X, the six-year-old victim. He thought she would be his girlfriend when she was older. The prosecutor said Lung's work involved assisting ethnic minorities, and he provided help for X and another three-year-old victim.

Lung and X's family first met in 2015, when her parents asked him to help take care of X and two siblings.

Then X complained to her brother that Lung had performed inappropriate acts on her in March 2019. Her brother then secretly took video of Lung in his office's washroom taking off X's underpants and taking photos of her private parts.

The brother then sent the video to his mother and they reported to police.

Lung was arrested on May 17 last year, and he admitted to police that he took photos of X's private parts and let her his.

He also admitted touching X intimately and also taking naked photos of Y and her masturbating him. Police found 19 photos of child pornography on his mobile phone. The case continues tomorrow.

In another case, well-known distance runner Gi Ka-man, 36, apologized on his Facebook page following accusations that he sexually assaulted over 100 women, including students at his running club.

"I did not treat or handle my romantic affairs seriously, which hurt others," he said. "Allow me to apologize to everyone I've hurt."

He added that he hoped those harmed "could have a new life," while vowing to "watch closely my behaviors and integrity".

The Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association, in which Gi is a registered trainer, said in a statement yesterday that it is "extremely concerned" about the scandal and adopts a "zero tolerance" attitude on sexual harassment.

Calling for victims to take action, the association: "We urge athletes not to suffer in silence but to appeal to the association or seek help from police."