Hong Kong's China national anthem bill aims to legislate 'respect', triggers protests

Amid growing concerns over threat to Hong Kong’s higher degree of automy, city’s legislature held a second reing of a controversial bill that would criminalise disrespect of China’s national anm. ministration reportedly deployed riot police outside Hong Kong’s Legislative Council to disperse protesters who took to streets against latest bill.

National Anm Bill provides for a jail term of up to three years and/or fines of up to $6,450 if a person is found guilty of disrespecting China’s national anm. Months-long pro-democracy protests against increasing interference of Beijing in Hong Kong’s internal affairs has prompted China and local ministration to push bill. 

bill directs individuals and organisations to respect and dignify national anm and play it on “appropriate occasions”. It also orders schools to teach history and etiquette to students while singing anm. Chinese national anm was booed by anti-government voices at several public events including football matches.

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Controversial laws

residents have been separately protesting against a national security law presented by National People’s Congress (NPC) which aims at “establishing and improving” legal system of Hong Kong to “safeguard national security”. United States, Britain, European Union, and or countries have raised concerns over proposed legislation. 

However, Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam has urged residents to wait for details of proposed legislation saying it would t affect city’s rights and freedoms. During a regular weekly press conference, Hong Kong leer said that re is need to worry about legislation, without elaborating on how higher degree of automy will be upheld.

Lam said that Hong Kong has always been able to uphold and preserve freedom of speech and expression and freedom to protest in last 23 years. She asserted that it is best thing to see legislation and understand why Hong Kong needs it at this point in time.

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(Im credit: AP)