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Hong Kong’s first person tried under national anthem law sentenced to 3 months in jail for using protest song in video
- Photographer Cheng Wing-chun earlier found guilty of insulting national anthem by replacing it with ‘Glory to Hong Kong’
- Sentence marks first ruling by a criminal court concerning legality of unofficial anthem of 2019 social unrest
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The first person to stand trial under Hong Kong’s national anthem law has been jailed for three months after using a song linked to the anti-government protests in a music video that showed a local athlete celebrating his victory at the Tokyo Olympics.
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Eastern Court on Thursday sentenced photographer Cheng Wing-chun for using “Glory to Hong Kong” in a video posted on YouTube, breaching the National Anthem Ordinance.
Magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man said the consequences of the defendant’s crime were profound and dire, as the 94-second clip had attracted calls for Hong Kong’s independence and undermined the national anthem, “March of the Volunteers”.
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“The defendant’s act not only disrespected the winning athlete, but also fuelled conflicts between people who have different views about the national anthem, and, as a matter of fact, galvanised others into making remarks that similarly undermined the national anthem’s dignity,” she said.
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