Booing Chinese national anthem a ‘serious issue’ about respect and identity, Hong Kong leader says
Carrie Lam says focus should not be on consequences for future football matches but about deeper concerns about ‘recognising you are Chinese’
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has hit out at local fans who boo the Chinese national anthem at football matches, saying the issue was “a very serious” one.
The chief executive said national respect and identity were at stake, and it was not simply a question of whether the next game would be played away from fans behind closed doors, as has been suggested by Hong Kong’s No 2 official, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung.
Lam largely steered clear of contentious political issues in her maiden policy address on Wednesday, but in a 75-minute press conference afterwards she was asked to comment on jeers heard for March of the Volunteers before the Hong Kong football team defeated Malaysia on Tuesday.
Lam said showing disrespect for the national anthem was a very serious issue, despite it being only a small minority of fans that were doing so.
Watch: Hong Kong football fans boo their national anthem
“Some people said: ‘Don’t boo, otherwise the next game is going to be played behind closed doors,’” she said. “But I think that shows the wrong focus. I must make it clear that this is an issue of respect for the nation and whether you recognise that you are Chinese.”