Anthem blues

Re: “Police swarm Hong Kong ahead of flashpoint anthem debate”, (BP, May 27).

If you criminalise insulting songs, flags, political leaders and the like, then you do not respect the good morals of democracy. China clearly does not respect the Chinese citizens of Hong Kong, but instead uses the law to force a show of respect for symbols that their very law proves unworthy of the legally dictated show of worthless respect being forced by the state.

In marked contrast, neither the US flag nor national anthem need any such despotic force to be genuinely respected by the American people.

FELIX QUI