A 19-year-old student has pleaded not guilty to insulting China’s national anthem during a 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier in Hong Kong last June.
Defendant Lau Pun-hei, shielded by umbrellas, leaves the Eastern Magistrates Courts on January 6, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
Lau Pun-hei entered his not guilty plea to the charge under the National Anthem Law on Monday morning at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts. The prosecution told Magistrate Don So that they would call four witnesses and present some videos as evidence.
Lau was granted bail pending a pre-trial review scheduled for March 3.
He was arrested on June 6 last year during a football match between the city’s team and Iran at Hong Kong Stadium. The teams were vying for a spot at the quadrennial international football championship to be held in 2026.
The 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier between Hong Kong and Iran held in Hong Kong Stadium on June 6, 2024. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.
Police said in June that officers had witnessed someone who had turned their back to the field and had not stood for the entirety of China’s national anthem. Local media reported at the time that some plainclothes police officers were observing spectators and filming them as the March of the Volunteers was played to the stadium.
In 2020, Hong Kong passed a law that criminalised insulting Chinese national anthem the March of the Volunteers. The law regulates the use of the national anthem and sets out standards of behaviour when it is played, with those breaching the legislation facing a fine of up to HK$50,000 dollars and imprisonment for three years.
Under the law, one must “stand solemnly” and “not behave in a way disrespectful to the national anthem.”
