Bill seeks to penalize booing anthem

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s legislature took up a bill Wednesday that would punish anyone who “publicly and intentionally insults” the Chinese national anthem with up to three years in prison, raising concerns about Beijing’s growing influence in the semiautonomous Chinese territory.

The move came after soccer fans repeatedly booed the anthem at the start of international qualifiers, upsetting leaders of the ruling Communist Party in Beijing.

Ever since Beijing suppressed the pro-democracy movement in the semiautonomous city in late 2014, heckling China’s national anthem has emerged as a form of protest. The bill, which also includes a maximum fine of $6,410, will be up for passage this summer.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997 but continues to enjoy civil liberties such as freedom of the press that are denied in China.

“We’re worried that by passing the bill, people’s right and liberty to express themselves in terms of political ideology will be restricted,” said Alvin Yeung, a lawmaker in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

Pro-Beijing legislator Holden Chow disagreed, saying the bill was merely about upholding the sanctity of national symbols.

“We are simply deterring people from showing disrespect to the national anthem,” Chow said.