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Police today (September 28) charged a 44-year-old man with three counts of desecrating the Regional Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The action is the result of in-depth investigations by Police into three separate incidents of desecration of the Regional Flag in July this year.

In the course of the investigations, Police had sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, following which the man was invited by the Police yesterday to assist with their inquiries into the incidents. He was arrested and charged with the offences when he reported to Wan Chai Police Station this afternoon.

The man has been released on court bail at $500 and self-surety of $2,500. He will appear in Eastern Magistracy tomorrow (September 29).

A police spokesman stressed that anyone who desecrates the Regional Flag or Regional Emblem by publicly and wilfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on it will violate section 7 of the regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance and is liable on conviction on indictment to a maximum fine of $50 000 and three years' imprisonment.

Police Report No. 5

Issued by PPRB

End/ 1730 hours, Thursday, September 28, 2000

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