HK bill aims to protect national anthem

Insulting the national anthem is a crime to be punishable by up to three years in prison and an HK$50,000 ($6,400) fine, under the National Anthem Bill released by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Wednesday.

The Legislative Council will deliberate on the bill on Jan 23, said Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen. The bill follows China's National Anthem Law, which took effect in October 2017.

"Our legislative principle is to fully reflect the purpose and intent of the National Anthem Law: to preserve the dignity of the national anthem and promote respect for the national anthem, and at the same time to give due regard to the common law system and the actual circumstances in Hong Kong," Nip said.