A Hong Kong man has been found guilty of insulting the national anthem and was remanded into custody on Wednesday, marking the first conviction under the National Anthem Ordinance.
Cheng Wing-chun, who was 27 at the time of arrest, appeared in front of Magistrate Minnie Wat at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.
He was charged under the National Anthem Ordinance for allegedly insulting the national anthem, and an alternative charge of allegedly desecrating the regional flag.
Cheng was prosecuted after he created and uploaded a remix video of Hong Kong fencing star Edgar Cheung winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021 with pro-democracy protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” playing, instead of the Chinese anthem.
The defendant was remanded in custody following his conviction, and will be sentenced on July 20, Ming Pao and Commercial Radio reported.
Cheng’s conviction marked the first under the National Anthem Ordinance. The legislation, passed in June 2020, outlaws insults to March of the Volunteers.
Offenders who are found guilty risk fines up to HK$50,000 or three years in prison.
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