Hong Kong residents at Apm shopping mall in Kwun Tong watch a live broadcast of Cheung Ka-long competing against Italy’s Daniele Garozzo in the men's individual foil final at the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 26, 2021. (CALVIN NG/ CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong police said on Friday they had arrested a 40-year-old man for booing the national anthem in a shopping mall broadcasting live the city's first Olympic gold medal win in 25 years earlier this week.
More than 100 people gathered briefly on Monday night at Apm mall in Kwun Tong to watch on a wide screen Cheung Ka-long claiming the Olympic men's individual fencing title.
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Police said they fielded complaints that some people booed during the award ceremony when the national anthem was played.
In a statement posted online, police said the arrested person had held a Hong Kong British colonial flag, booed and chanted slogans with others at the time.
Police said his alleged aim was to "incite hatred and politicize sports", and that his conduct, taken as a whole, may have insulted the national anthem. The man identified himself as a journalist, police added.
"The police have launched an investigation into the incident and will collect relevant evidence," police said.
Hong Kong passed a law in June 2020 that criminalized disrespect of the national anthem. Anyone found guilty of misusing or insulting the anthem could be jailed for up to three years and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,450).
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