Hong Kong passes China national anthem bill
HONG KONG — Hong Kong passed a bill on Thursday that would criminalize disrespect of China’s national anthem, a move critics see as the latest sign of Beijing’s tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.
The move comes just days after Chinese authorities gave the green light to move ahead with a national security law, which the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, as well as international human rights groups, say will erode freedoms in the global financial hub.
The national anthem bill orders that primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong be taught to sing the March of the Volunteers, along with its history and etiquette.
It carries penalties of up to three years jail as well as fines of up to $6,450 for those who insult it. The anthem has been booed at football matches, where soccer fans have at times sang Glory to Hong Kong, a song that has become a rallying cry for the democracy movement in the city.
Earlier, police and firefighters entered the city’s legislature after pro-democracy lawmakers threw foul-smelling liquid in protest of the “murderous” crackdown by Chinese troops in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square 31 years ago.