Officials attend a flag-raising ceremony is held at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on July 1, 2021 to mark the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Wednesday that the bill amending the city’s National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance will be gazetted on Aug 13 and introduced in the Legislative Council for first and second readings on Aug 18.
In a statement, the government said the National Flag & National Emblem (Amendment) Bill 2021 aims to make clear the requirements on the use of the national flag and national emblem, including the etiquette to be followed in a flag-raising ceremony and the recovery mechanism.
The bill also aims to clarify the provisions on desecration offenses and provide for education to promote the national flag and national emblem
It also aims to clarify the provisions on desecration offenses and provide for education to promote the national flag and national emblem.
“The government consulted the Panel on Constitutional Affairs of the LegCo on the proposed direction and outline of the amendments to the NFNEO in February this year. Members expressed support for the proposed direction," a government spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.
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On October 17, 2020, the 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committee endorsed the amendments to the National Flag Law and National Emblem Law which came into force on January 1 this year.
The HKSAR government said it decided to implement these amendments locally by amending the NFNEO instead of by promulgation. This approach is consistent with the "one country, two systems" principle, according to the statement.
The NFNEO was enacted in 1997 to apply locally the National Flag Law and National Emblem Law, it added.
The government also said that the bill aims to safeguard the proper use and preserve the dignity of the national flag and the national emblem, which are the symbols and signs of the country, and to promote respect for them.
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The bill also aims to enhance the sense of national identity among citizens and promote patriotism, “whilst taking into account the common law system and actual circumstances in Hong Kong,” it added.
The government said it will fully complement the council’s work in scrutinizing the bill to strive for its early passage.