Hong Kong passes national anthem bill
Law to create basic conditions for HK’s ‘ecological’ changes
Hong Kong lawmakers passed the national anthem bill on Thursday, which was considered a victory for the pro-establishment group amid the intensifying political battle, as the bill had been delayed due to disruptions from pan-democratic legislators.
Forty-one voted in favor of the bill and one against after three readings – a legitimate move that would punish insulting the anthem for up to three years in prison and a maximum penalty of HK$50,000.
The passage of the bill comes as pan-democratic legislators had used a series of malicious moves to interrupt the meeting procedures. While some Western media depicted the national anthem bill and upcoming national security law for Hong Kong as “controversial” laws that would erode the high autonomy and freedom of Hong Kong people, some lawmakers and local residents slammed such claims as “untrue.”
Both bills are seen as legitimate as they have nothing to do with infringing on individual rights of Hong Kong people protected by the Basic Law, as some Western media reported, observers said.
The national anthem law has been implemented in the Chinese mainland since 2017, and the National People’s Congress Standing Committee introduced the law through Annex III of the Basic Law. According to Article 18 of the Basic Law, national laws shall not be applied in Hong Kong except for those listed in Annex III.
Hong Kong government started pushing forward the promulgation of the national anthem bill since early 2018, and deliberations have been delayed due to the month-long social turmoil in the city.
Following anti-government group instigations and the lack of relevant laws, some have insulted the national anthem in Hong Kong. For example, soccer fans booed the national anthem at a match in 2017.
“The NPC push for the national security law for Hong Kong and passage of the national anthem bill would create basic conditions for Hong Kong’s ‘ecological’ changes,” said Chan Cheuk-hay, President and Principal of Hong Kong College of Technology.
It would take time for some young Hong Kong people to change their minds from not accepting the national anthem to obeying the law, which also requires a lot of work, he said.
“Still, the law would help some of them regain their dignity, as those who show no respect to their own country would be despised by the world,” the president said.
The NPC Standing Committee also recently announced that the new national security law for Hong Kong would be introduced into the city through Annex III, while some observers expect the process of formulating and enacting the law to be faster than expected.
While the national anthem bill took two years to enact in Hong Kong, the upcoming national security law is expected to be quickly implemented as the city has been engulfed by riots and violent protests.
“If the NPC standing committee unveils and passes detailed regulations of the national security law for Hong Kong by the end of June, it could be implemented before the midJuly LegCo recess to disqualify some lawmaker candidates who are not qualified,” said Wong Kwok-kin, Legislative Council member and vice president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions.