HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s authorities will give “precedence” to a contentious invoice that seeks to criminalize abuse of the Chinese language nationwide anthem, town’s chief stated Tuesday, days after a pro-Beijing lawmaker wrested management over a key committee that vets payments.
The proposed regulation is aimed toward guaranteeing that residents of Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese language territory, respect China’s nationwide anthem. Underneath the invoice, those that use the anthem for industrial functions, or publicly and deliberately insult the anthem, reminiscent of booing it throughout soccer video games, might face fines of as much as 50,000 Hong Kong {dollars} ($6,450) and as much as three years in jail.
The transfer comes as variations between the pro-Beijing and pro-democracy camps in Hong Kong had been sharpened throughout months-long protests final yr that had been sparked by an try and move a invoice that might have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China to face trials. That invoice was ultimately withdrawn.
Hong Kong’s chief, Carrie Lam, stated the chief secretary and different officers have written to pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee, who has inserted herself as chair of the Legislative Council’s Home Committee — which scrutinizes payments and decides when they are often despatched for a last vote — to seek the advice of together with her on the resumption of second readings of payments.
“Two of the payments have been delayed for a really very long time, and they’re the nationwide anthem invoice and the patents modification invoice,” Lam stated at a information convention. “So we do count on these two payments to be given precedence within the resumption of second readings by the Legislative Council.”