Hong Kong Activists Protest ‘Breast Assault’ Ruling, Men Take To The Streets In Bras

Hundreds of men and women protest in lingerie after court sentences woman to three months in jail for assaulting a police officer with her breast

A court ruling in Hong Kong has caused outrage after a woman was sentenced to jail for allegedly assaulting a police officer with her breast.

Ng Lai-ying, 30, claimed that Chief Inspector Chan Ka-po touched her left breast during a protest in March.

A court ruled against her claim however, accusing the protestor of intentionally pushing her breast against him and thus setting him up for assault.

Ms Ng was sentenced to three months and 15 days in jail in a ruling that has sparked a very unique form of protest.

Around 200 protestors, male and female, gathered outside police headquarters in the Wan Chai district of the city to picket the decision – wearing bras.

Their message was simple: a breast is not a weapon.

Talking to AFP news agency, retired teacher James Hon remarked, “We have come to this rather odd method to tell the world how ridiculous it is.”

“We better watch out as one day police might accuse us of attacking with our penis or buttock,” claimed a topless male protestor.

While the protest remained peaceful and somewhat lighthearted, there was a very real issue being raised on the streets of Hong Kong.

“The ruling is absurd. How can breasts be a weapon?” argued Ng Cheuk-ling, an activist from Hong Kong Women's Coalition on Equal Opportunities.

“We are angry but we also fear that this precedent exploits women's rights to take part in protests. Police must review their guidelines to handle female protesters,” she said.

“The potential loss and fear for women is bigger than for men, especially sexual threats,” pointed out social worker Jordi Tsang.

Ng was originally protesting the sharp hike in shop prices and rent in Hong Kong due to an influx of Chinese tourists when she claimed the senior policeman indecently assaulted her.

However Magistrate Michael Chan Pik- kiu said she “used her female identity to trump up the allegation that the officer had molested” her, before handing down the jail sentence.

There’s no word on whether or not Ms Ng will appeal the ruling.