Concerns over planned law to prevent abuse of Chinese national anthem in Hong Kong
Pan-democrats say law must be amended for Hong Kong to ensure city’s rights and freedoms are upheld
A proposed mainland law to curb disrespect for China’s national anthem is set to be applied in Hong Kong, paving the way for strict punishment for those who mock or parody the official song.
Concerns were immediately raised by pan-democrats after The Beijing News reported on Monday that the executive body of China’s top legislature would officially propose inserting a national anthem law into Annex III of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, at its bimonthly meeting in October.
At the heart of the anxieties was whether the same severity of punishments would be extended to the city, which has different standards in guaranteeing people’s rights and freedoms.
‘Law to stop abuse of China’s national anthem would extend to Hong Kong ... but in revised form’
When it meets in October, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee will be looking at the draft law, which was a given second reading on Monday. There is no clear date on when it will be passed yet.
The draft law will ban people from playing the March of the Volunteers at events such as funerals or using it as background music in public places.
Malicious revisions to the lyrics or derogatory performances may also be punished under the proposed legislation by up to 15 days in detention.
The legislation also bars the use of the anthem in commercial advertisements, while those at events are required to stand up straight solemnly when the anthem is played.
Such a ban means Hong Kong soccer fans, who booed during the anthem ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in 2015, would have been breaking the law had it been in effect then.