'Ample Time' For Public Views On Anthem Law

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2018-03-10 HKT 15:56

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• 'Ample time' for public views on anthem law

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Patrick Nip, said on Saturday there will be "ample time" to consult the public on a national anthem law, after a draft proposal is sent to the Legislative Council later this month.

The administration is working on draft local legislation to ban disrespect of the "March of the Volunteers", in line with the national law that the mainland implemented in October last year.

Nip told reporters that the government will submit a legislative proposal to the Legislative Council's constitutional affairs panel for discussion later this month, and expects the first reading of the bill to be completed by July.

When asked if the administration will conduct an official public consultation on the controversial proposal, Nip simply said there will be various channels to collect public opinion:

He said the administration will listen, and consider how best to make the local legislation.