Legislature begins debate Chinese national anthem bill

Hong Kong lawmakers on Wednesday debated a bill criminalizing the abuse of the Chinese national anthem in the semi-autonomous city.

The bill would make it illegal to insult or abuse the Chinese national anthem, “March of the Volunteers” .

Those guilty of the offense would face up to three years in prison and a fine of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars ($6,450)

Opponents say it is a blow to freedom of expression in the city, while Beijing officials say it will foster a patriotic spirit and socialist values.

At second reading of the bill on Wednesday pro-Beijing lawmaker Martin Liao told the chamber: "We should respect the national anthem".

Pro-democracy lawmaker, Tanya Chan, expressed fears over who would enforce the law and whether those arrested would be sent to China for trial.

The bill was proposed in January 2019 after spectators from Hong Kong jeered at the anthem during high-profile international soccer matches in 2015.

Last year, FIFA fined the Hong Kong Football Association after fans booed the national anthem at a World Cup qualifying game.

Hong Kong was returned to China from British colonial rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” framework that promised freedoms not found on the mainland.

Anti-China sentiment has risen as residents see Beijing moving to erode those rights.

Thousands of protesters shouted pro-democracy slogans and insults at police in Hong Kong as they demonstrated outside the legislative building ahead of Wednesday's session.