Politics
14:45, 31-Oct-2017
China considers criminal penalties for disrespecting national anthem
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China's top legislature is considering an amendment to the country's Criminal Law to include penalties for disrespecting the national anthem.
A draft amendment was submitted for lawmakers' deliberation at the bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which started Monday.
Violators may face punishment of up to three years in prison, according to the draft.
The top legislature also heard draft decisions to apply the newly-adopted National Anthem Law in the Hong Kong and Macao 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 (SAR) and Annex III in the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, which regulates national laws to be applied in the two regions.
The bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee convenes at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. /CGTN Photo
The bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee convenes at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. /CGTN Photo
"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," said Zhang Rongshun, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee,
"In recent years, incidents of disrespecting the national anthem have occurred in Hong Kong, challenging the bottom line of the principle of 'One country, Two systems' and social morality and triggering rage 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."
During the week-long session, law makers will continue to review draft laws on public libraries and E-commerce, as well as draft revisions to the laws of unfair competition, and standardization.
They will deliberate bills to amend laws covering rural land contracts, shipping tonnage dues and accounting.
They will also consider reports on grassland protection, judicial reform and the implementation of solid waste pollution prevention and control laws.
(CGTN's Hou Na also contributed to this story)
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