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Saturday, April 28, 2018, 10:41
National Anthem Law 'aims to foster respect'
By Joseph Li
Saturday, April 28, 2018, 10:41 By Joseph Li

NPC deputy Ma says legislation is necessary and not to punish people but to encourage self-discipline

Ma Fung-kwok, Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress and lawmaker who represents the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publications functional constituency, speaks to China Daily during an exclusive interview. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

It is necessary to have the National Anthem Law in Hong Kong to foster respect for the national anthem of the country, National People’s Congress deputy Ma Fung-kwok said.

The purpose of the National Anthem Law was not to punish people, and penalties for breaching it would not be severe. It is hoped people will respect the national anthem out of self-discipline, Ma told China Daily.

After the National Anthem Law has been enacted on the Chinese mainland and incorporated into Annex III of the Basic Law, it will also apply to Hong Kong.

(The SAR government) should consider this at any time to prevent foreign political forces from stirring up trouble in Hong Kong with the intent to stall China’s development

Ma Fung-kwok, Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress and lawmaker

ALSO READ: National Anthem Law 'will not affect rights, freedoms'

Ma is a Legislative Council member who represents the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publications functional constituency. He said his voters had reacted positively to the prospective legislation.

Ma adds that the proposal the special administrative region government will submit to LegCo is moderate and reasonable.

He will consult people in the sports, performing arts, culture and publications sectors on their views. “But I think there is no need to consult all of society,” Ma noted.

“My constituencies are not worried. Composers may have concerns but decent, professional composers are unperturbed,” he added.

Last year, some Hong Kong soccer fans booed the national anthem before the Hong Kong team’s international friendlies. FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, consequently fined the Hong Kong Football Association.

Ma said police should enforce the law if this happens again after the National Anthem Law is enacted, although it would be difficult to identify the people booing.

Some people wear masks and turn their backs when they boo the national anthem; police can still catch them with the help of witnesses and circumstantial evidence, such as clothing.

“Police could still arrest people wearing hats and masks at the scenes of ‘Occupy Central’ and Mong Kok riot,” he noted.

Security law needed

The lawmaker also believes Hong Kong needs to enact a national security law by implementing Article 23 of the Basic Law. Ma says there is clearly a need to safeguard national security. 

He said: “(The SAR government) should consider this at any time to prevent foreign political forces from stirring up trouble in Hong Kong with the intent to stall China’s development, with illegal ‘Occupy Central’ protests being an obvious example.”

READ MORE: Public views on anthem bill to be heard

Ma also condemned Benny Tai Yiu-ting, one of the ringleaders of the illegal “Occupy” protests, for spreading “Hong Kong independence” in Taiwan last month. He rejected Tai’s excuse that his actions were an expression of civic freedom.

Ma said: “How could he claim academic freedom when we all know that the organizer of the forum was an association that proclaims Taiwan independence, rather than a university?

“If there is an anti-subversion law, Tai could be charged for disseminating remarks which harm national security or split the country even though he did not make the remarks in Hong Kong.”

 

joseph@chinadailyhk.com

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