**********************************************************

Following is a question by the Hon Bernard CHAN and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, in the Legislative Council today (June 18):

Question :

It was reported that the coffins of persons who demonstrated bravery and died on duty could be covered with the national flag or the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council :

(a) since the reunification, of the respective numbers of persons who demonstrated bravery and died on duty and had their coffins covered with the national flag or the regional flag; and

(b) of the criteria for determining whether the coffins of the persons who demonstrate bravery and die on duty should be covered with the national flag or the regional flag?

Reply :

The National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance and the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance provide for the use and protection of the national flag and the regional flag in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region respectively. The use of the national flag or the regional flag at funeral service is considered within the remits of the Ordinances.

Since reunification, the national flag was used at the official funeral of two deceased public officers and the regional flag at eight such occasions to date.

Following a recent internal review, as a general practice, the departmental flag, where available and appropriate, should be used at official funerals for public officers who died on duty. The regional flag may be used at an official funeral with full honours for a public officer who demonstrated a high degree of bravery, gallantry or commitment in the discharge of his/her final duties in service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Only in very exceptional circumstances when the deceased officer should warrant the most honorific recognition at the national level above full honours would consideration be given to the use of the national flag. The proposed use of the national or regional flag at an official funeral would require prior approval by the Chief Executive with the personal support of the Director of Bureau and head of the agency concerned.

End/Wednesday, June 18, 2003

NNNN