The Regional Flag & Regional Emblem (Amendment) Bill 2023 will be gazetted this Friday and introduced into the Legislative Council for the first and second readings on July 12.

Following the amendment of the National Flag & National Emblem Ordinance in 2021, upon detailed examination of the Regional Flag & Regional Emblem Ordinance, the Government decided to amend the latter to better preserve the dignity of and enhance the protection for the regional flag and regional emblem. 

The Government said the bill will strengthen protection by clarifying the provisions relating to offences of desecrating the regional flag and regional emblem.

It will also make clear the requirements on the proper use of the regional flag and regional emblem, with a view to enabling the public to know clearly the do's and don'ts, for example, the etiquette for attending a ceremony in which the regional flag is raised as well as the regional flag and regional emblem’s recovery and disposal mechanism.

In addition, the bill will provide for the education and promotion of the regional flag and regional emblem.

The Government consulted LegCo’s Panel on Constitutional Affairs on the proposed direction and outline of the amendments in May, with members expressing support for the proposed direction. It submitted the LegCo brief on the bill today.