Government condemns acts advocating HK independence and desecrating national flag
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     In response to some rally participants' acts of waving flags and making speeches advocating Hong Kong independence, as well as removing the national flag from the flagpole and placing it on the ground today (December 22), a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government strongly condemns such acts, adding that those who break the law would face criminal liability.

     The spokesman said that the constitutional and legal status of the HKSAR is very clear. Article 1 of the Basic Law points out that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Article 12 of the Basic Law states that the HKSAR shall be a local administrative region of the PRC, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government. "One country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy are the established basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong.

     "Advocating Hong Kong independence is inconsistent with the constitutional and legal status of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Basic Law and is not conducive to the overall and long-term interest of Hong Kong society. It is also contrary to the established basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong."

     The spokesman stressed that the national flag is the symbol and sign of the country. According to the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance, a person who desecrates the national flag or national emblem by publicly and wilfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on it commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for 3 years.

Ends/Sunday, December 22, 2019
Issued at HKT 22:00

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