BEIJING – The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing yesterday heard draft decisions to apply the newly-adopted National Anthem Law both in Hong Kong and Macau, the nation’s two special administrative regions.
According to the bills, the National Anthem Law, which took effect on October 1, will be included in Annex III of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Annex III of the Basic Law of the Macau SAR, which regulates national laws to be applied in the two regions.The bills were submitted to the bi-monthly legislative session of the NPC Standing Committee, which opened Monday.
Legislative Assembly (AL) President Ho Iat Seng is Macau’s only member of the NPC Standing Committee.
According to the Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau, national laws shall not be applied in the two autonomous regions, except for those listed in Annex III of their respective Basic Laws.
The NPC Standing Committee may add or delete the laws listed in Annex III after consulting the committees of the Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau under the NPC Standing Committee and the two SAR governments.
The National Anthem Law is among laws relating to defense, foreign affairs and other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the two SARs, according to Zhang Rongshun, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.
“The NPC Standing Committee consulted the two committees and two SAR governments, all of which agreed that it is in line with the Basic Laws and appropriate to add the National Anthem Law to Annex III,” he said. “To safeguard the authority of the national anthem – one of the national symbols – is to safeguard the authority of the state, the people and the Chinese nation.”
“In recent years, incidents of disrespecting the national anthem occurred in Hong Kong, challenging the bottom line of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and social morality and triggering outrage among Chinese including most Hong Kong residents,” Zhang said. “It is urgent and important to apply the National Anthem Law in Hong Kong, in a bid to prevent and handle such offences.”
The Hong Kong SAR is expected to implement the law by way of local legislation if the decision is adopted.
“The local law on the national flag, emblem and anthem, adopted by the Macau SAR in 1999, has played a constructive role in properly using the national anthem, safeguarding national authority and promoting patriotism among local residents,” Zhang said.
Although the local law’s regulations related to the national anthem are in line with the principles of national law, Macau was expected to make improvements if the decision is adopted, according to Zhang.
Annex III of the Macau Basic Law specifically mentions the national anthem, national flag and national emblem among its 11 national laws, resolutions and regulations.
The 30th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) holds its second plenary meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhang Dejiang presided over the meeting.
