'Impossible To List All Violations Of Anthem Law'

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip told lawmakers on Friday that government simply cannot provide an exhaustive list of all acts that will be deemed as insulting the national anthem, as councillors debated a proposal aimed at banning disrespect of the 'March of the Volunteers'.

Speaking at Legco's Panel on Constitutional Affairs, Nip said the public does not have to worry too much about violating the future anthem law, as long as they truly respect the national anthem.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum raised questions about possible scenarios where people may potentially fall afoul of the law.

The chairwoman of the pro-Beijing DAB party, Starry Lee, asked Nip if people passing by a stadium where the national anthem is being played will need to stand at attention, while BPA lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok wanted clarifications about whether workers will have to drop their jobs or customers at restaurants have to stop eating when the anthem is played on televisions.

Opposition lawmaker Claudia Mo wanted to know if people who roll their eyes during the anthem will be seen as insulting it. And Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung asked if playing a popular Hacken Lee Cantopop song about football – which borrows from the main melody of the national anthem – will be problematic.

But Nip dismissed all these queries as unnecessary concerns. He said people who are directly participating in an event where the anthem is played will be required to show respect. However, passersby and TV viewers won't be held to the same requirements as they are not participating in the event, he said.

Meanwhile some pro-democracy groups in a joint petition, urged the government not to rush into the anthem law.

The petition also questioned how the existing songs and movies that parody or draw from the national anthem will be treated under the proposed law.

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