Hong Kong schools told to play national anthem during celebrations for important dates, consider police action if serious violations occur
- Education Bureau sets out guidelines while also strongly advising schools to observe anthem rules on other events such as open day and sports day
- Principals urged to look into cases of violation or insult by teachers or students, and call in police if necessary
Schools in Hong Kong must play the Chinese anthem during celebrations for New Year’s Day, the anniversary of the city’s handover on July 1 and National Day on October 1, according to new guidelines issued by the Education Bureau.
Both local and international schools should also look into cases of students and teachers disrespecting March of the Volunteers, and can call police if the acts involve serious and deliberate insult to the anthem.
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The guidelines set out by the bureau on Thursday raised concerns from parents over the definition of an insult and the circumstances under which their children would be punished, while principals urged authorities to provide clearer instructions to schools on how they should teach students about the anthem in the curriculum.
Hong Kong’s legislature passed the national anthem bill earlier this month, with the law gazetted last Friday. Anyone convicted of misusing or insulting the anthem faces a fine of up to HK$50,000 (US$6,450) and three years in prison.
The law also requires Hong Kong’s secretary for education to give directions for the inclusion of the national anthem in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools.