No stopping introduction of National Anthem Law

The Hong Kong Federation of Students has become a pawn serving the whims of local separatists in recent years. Which is why its chairperson’s show of ignorance on Saturday came as no surprise. Expressing her hatred for the Chinese nation, Cheung Sin-ying said she feels sick every time she hears the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China. She made her remarks during the second of three scheduled hearings on the National Anthem Law by the Panel on Constitutional Affairs.

The Panel of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is collecting public opinions on the law.

It is not clear if the woman spoke for only herself or also on behalf of her organization. But whatever the case, there is no doubt she does not represent the vast majority of Hong Kong residents. Most of Hong Kong society upholds the SAR as an inalienable part of the PRC.

Which is why more people dismissed the woman’s words with utter disgust on social media than supported her.

The Basic Law of the SAR stipulates in Annex III that the National Flag Law, the National Emblem Law and the National Anthem Law, among others, are national laws that must be implemented in the SAR through local legislation.

Local legislation on the National Flag Law and National Emblem Law has already been done. But the National Anthem Law was added to the list of national laws to be implemented through local legislation in Annex III of the Basic Law by the National People’s Congress only last year. Now the local legislation on the National Anthem Law is underway.

The HKFS chairperson was allowed to speak at the public hearing on Saturday because she has the right to express her view on public affairs. But neither she nor her fellow separatists can stop the local legislation on the National Anthem Law. A draft bill is due to be presented to the Legislative Council by the end of July.

That is welcome news to most people in Hong Kong, who want the National Anthem local legislation completed as soon as possible. They recognize that its absence has allowed separatist advocates to trample over the collective interests of Hong Kong society multiple times in recent years.