Hongkonger, 22, jailed for insulting national anthem abandons sentence appeal
Chan Pak-yui is convicted for disruptive acts while ‘March of the Volunteers’ played ahead of women’s volleyball match last year
A Hong Kong man jailed for insulting the national anthem during the opening ceremony of an international volleyball match has abandoned an appeal against his conviction and eight-week sentence.
Chan Pak-yui’s counsel told the High Court on Thursday that the jobless 22-year-old, who was waiting to go to university at the time of his arrest, would like to serve his sentence after further discussions with his lawyers.
Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes ordered the appeal to be quashed after confirming the appellant’s intention.
The hearing would have been the first inquiry by an appellate court into a guilty verdict under the 2020 National Anthem Ordinance, which penalises misuse of “March of the Volunteers” and insulting conduct.
Chan was convicted for an array of disruptive acts while the anthem played before a women’s Volleyball Nations League match at the Coliseum in Hung Hom on June 16, 2023.
