New pro-Beijing lawmaker pushes China anthem bill in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's government will give "priority” to a contentious bill that seeks to criminalize the abuse of the Chinese national anthem, the city's leader said Tuesday, days after a pro-Beijing lawmaker wrested control over a key committee that vets bills.

The proposed law is aimed at ensuring that residents of Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, respect China’s national anthem. Under the bill, those who use the anthem for commercial purposes, or publicly and intentionally insult the anthem, such as booing it during soccer games, could face fines of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars ($6,450) and up to three years in prison.

The move comes as differences between the pro-Beijing and protest camps in Hong Kong were sharpened during months-long discontent last year that were sparked by an attempt to pass a bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China to face trials. That bill was eventually withdrawn.

Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, said the chief secretary and other officials have written to pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee, who has inserted herself as chair of the Legislative Council’s House Committee, which scrutinizes bills and decides when they can be sent for a final vote, to consult with her on the resumption of second readings of bills.

"Two of the bills have been delayed for a very long time, and they are the national anthem bill and the patents amendment bill,” Lam said at a news conference. "So we do expect these two bills to be given priority in the resumption of second readings by the Legislative Council.”

The anthem bill was first proposed in January last year after Hong Kong spectators jeered at the Chinese national anthem during several high-profile, international soccer matches in 2015. Anti-China sentiment has been on the rise in Hong Kong since the 2014 protests, known as the Umbrella Revolution, that stemmed from the Chinese government’s decision to pre-screen candidates for the city's leadership position.

Beijing’s move was seen as a restriction on democracy in Hong Kong, and a violation of the "one country, two systems” framework that it was given when the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997.

Lee on Friday inserted herself as chair of the House Committee amid shouting matches from both camps and accusations from anti-mainland lawmakers that she was overstepping her boundaries.

The chairperson’s seat had previously been empty for six months, with Beijing criticizing deputy chairman and anti-China lawmaker Dennis Kwok of abusing his power in delaying the election of a new chair, and thus causing a backlog of bills.