Some will still boo national anthem after Hong Kong passes local law against it, political heavyweight Maria Tam says
Basic Law panel member says there were multiple offenders after enactment of similar legislation protecting Chinese flag and emblem
There will still be Hong Kong people who boo China’s national anthem even after the city passes a law against such behaviour, a pro-Beijing political heavyweight said on Friday.
“It’s going to keep happening for a while. Maybe even when the law is passed, there will still be people who will continue to boo the national anthem. There will be people who will defy the law,” Tam said on a radio programme on Friday morning.
Among the 2,400 spectators, a small group of fans in one of the stands jeered and swore when the March of the Volunteers played, with some turning their backs to the pitch.
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In 1998, activists Ng Kung-siu and Lee Kin-yun “extensively defaced” flags in a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration in the name of their right to freedom of expression. The Court of Final Appeal convicted the pair, ruling that freedom of expression was still subject to restrictions.
Similar incidents happened in 2002, 2013 and 2015; the offenders were all punished.
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“The existence of a law doesn’t mean no one will violate it,” Tam said. But she added that she hoped seeing offenders pay the price for violating the law would deter others.
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Tam added that she believed there was no need for a citywide public consultation.