Hongkongers will not be arrested for refusing to stand for national anthem, government adviser says
Executive Councillor Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun comments after China’s top legislative body on Saturday imposed a national anthem law on Hong Kong
A policy adviser to the Hong Kong government has said she does not believe authorities will arrest people for not standing for the Chinese national anthem, but she said respecting the song was a basic behaviour that everyone should follow.
While the Hong Kong government has said it will adopt the national law through local legislation, it has so far refused to commit to appeals by pan-democrats for a proper consultation to address concerns over details like what constitutes disrespectful behaviour.
The secretary for home affairs, Lau Kong-wah told reporters initially on Sunday that the government had said clearly that a “consultation” would be conducted – but the transcript of his answer later issued by the government was supplemented with the words “listen to views” in brackets, casting doubt over the possibility of a formal consultation.
Under the national law, everyone must stand solemnly when the anthem is played. Anyone who maliciously modifies the lyrics, or plays or sings the song in “a distorted or disrespectful way in public”, can be detained for up to 15 days in “administrative detention” by police using the law, or imprisoned for three years under the criminal code.