A Hong Kong court on Nov. 10 sentenced [6] citizen journalist Paula Leung to three months in prison—the first conviction under the territory's National Anthem Ordinance [7]. The law was enacted in Hong Kong on June 12, 2020, pursuant to an act passed by the People's Republic of China in September 2017, which mandated that the semi-autonomous city bring its legal code into conformity. According to regional news outlets [8], Leung attended a mall screening of Olympic fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long [9] receiving his gold medal on July 30, 2021. During the playing of the Chinese national anthem, attendees waved the colonial-era Hong Kong flag. This was found to be in violation of Article 7 of the law, which makes it a criminal offense to "insult the national anthem," punishable by up to three years imprisonment.
From Jurist [10], Nov. 11. Used with permission.
Note: We have noted before [12] the contradictions of the Hong Kong opposition adopting the colonial-era flag as a symbol of dissent.
