Hong Kong soccer matches may be played behind closed doors if anthem boos continue, chief secretary warns
As city gets set to face Malaysia next week, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung warns there will be consequences for fans who boo Chinese national anthem
Hong Kong’s soccer team may be forced to play international matches behind closed doors if fans jeer at the Chinese national anthem again during next week’s match with Malaysia, the city’s chief secretary has warned.
Matthew Cheung Kin-chung issued the ultimatum to soccer fans on Saturday ahead of the city’s Asian Cup qualifier match, which will take place on Tuesday at Hong Kong Stadium.
Explainer: what will China’s national anthem law mean for Hong Kong?
Cheung, after a public event on Saturday, said Hong Kong people must respect the national anthem and the national flag.
Watch: Hong Kong football fans boo their national anthem
“[The booing] is absolutely unacceptable,” he said. “I hope the public do not have these behaviours any more, because if it happens again next week in the match against Malaysia, Hong Kong may have to play behind closed doors in international matches, which will not be a good thing for any football fan and will greatly damage Hong Kong’s image. I hope some people reflect on this seriously.”
Beijing ‘unswerving’ on ‘one country, two systems’, new chief of Hong Kong affairs says; lashes out at independence advocates
“We will have to handle [establishing the law] eventually, so I think this is an issue we cannot evade in our legislation agenda,” he said. “Of course, we need to have our colleagues in the Department of Justice provide legal advice, and it needs to be passed on to the Legislative Council.”
He did not indicate when the Hong Kong law was due.
Across the border, the law was passed last month by the National People Congress, China’s top legislature, stating that “attendees at events where the anthem is played are required to stand straight and remain solemn for the song”.
Offenders on the mainland are liable to 15 days in detention, but Hong Kong residents will not be affected until a local version of the law is passed.
Another fine, of 5,000 Swiss francs, was issued in the same year after attendees booed the anthem during a World Cup qualifier against Qatar at home.
Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok Wing-hang said the Hong Kong government should conduct a public consultation after it finished drafting the law.
Kwok, who sits on Legco’s security panel, said he would focus on whether the law was clear in its details, such as what constituted respecting the anthem.
“The government needs to ask why some citizens would [boo the national anthem] and think how it can solve what people are upset about,” Kwok said. “I don’t think setting up a law is of much use. It will only cause more conflict between the police force and people.”