HK Launches National Anthem Bill Amid Protests

Hong Kong on Wednesday started the process of enacting a law to prevent insults and disrespect of the national anthem with opponents and supporters of the bill engaging in wordy duels outside the Legislative Council complex.

As dozens of supporters and opponents faced off against each other, a group of Demosisto activists in a surprise protest raised a banner in Civic Square against the law.

After submitting the bill to the Legco, constitutional affairs minister Patrick Nip said the spirit of the law is about respect and he said he believes most Hongkongers can understand this and respect the anthem.

He also said he thinks the bill will have little effect on people's daily lives.

Some opposition lawmakers raised slogans when the bill was taken up for first reading, but Legco president Andrew Leung quickly put his foot down.

He asked the legislators to keep order and warned that anyone acting otherwise would be kicked out.

The council then sent the bill to Legco's house committee.

Earlier outside Legco, critics of the law held a demonstration demanding the bill be shelved, while rival protesters also held a rally, saying the law is needed to uphold national dignity.

Once passed, anyone who disrespects the "March of the Volunteers" can be punished with a jail term of up to three years or a fine of HK$50,000.

The chairwoman of the pro-Beijing DAB party and chairwoman the House Committee, Starry Lee, said insulting the national anthem can no longer be tolerated.

"Hong Kong is part of China and the national anthem represents our country. Because we don't have this law [yet], some people do make use of that to try to insult the national anthem, which is hurting One Country, Two Systems," Lee said.

"I think we need this piece of legislation to give out the signal that you cannot do that, otherwise you will have to bear the consequences."

But Labour Party chairman Steven Kwok warned that the administration's proposed legislation will restrict freedom of speech.

"The maximum punishment will be three years in prison. This is not reasonable," Kwok said."Its purpose is to restrict our freedom of expression and the police can choose who they want to prosecute."

In November 2017, the National People's Congress Standing Committee voted to introduce a national anthem law into Annex III of Hong Kong's Basic Law. The move came a month after the mainland enacted its own legislation outlawing disrespect for the anthem.

The bill submitted to Legco has already attracted concerns, about the legal definition of disrespect and a two-year period allowed for police investigations into suspected offences.

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