Police criticised for not hoisting national flag

A legislator has criticised the practice of not hoisting the national flag at police stations as 'showing no respect' to the country.

Wong Kwok-hing, of the Federation of Trade Unions, pressed for a change yesterday.

A review last year led to an additional 108 government venues hoisting the national flag.

Wong said: 'Premises which hoisted the British flag before the handover should now hoist Chinese flag. That is so simple. All government venues should hoist the flag.'

He said police stations only raised the national flag on special days - New Year's Day, National Day, and July 1 to mark the handover anniversary. On other days only the Hong Kong SAR flag and the police flag were raised at the more than 60 police stations.

'Does that mean our police - a disciplinary force - show no respect to the country?' Wong said.

Police Inspectors' Association chairman Tony Liu Kit-ming said staff associations had discussed the issue with management but said there had not been much progress. 'We don't know why the Chinese flag is not hoisted. Staff do feel a bit strange. But the management does not seem to care much,' Liu said.

Wong criticised the government for setting a bad example in national education.

A Protocol Division spokesman said: 'The national flag is displayed at major government buildings. Any proposed locations will be considered on individual merits.'

The 108 government premises now also raising the national flag include 15 government department headquarters buildings, 20 government offices buildings, 78 recreational grounds and cultural venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and the Home Affairs Bureau-managed Youth Square.