Hong Kong bans replacing China flag’s stars with ‘virus shapes’


HONG KONG (Bloomberg): Hong Kong legislators have outlawed insulting the Chinese flag, including on the Internet, as the Asian financial hub continues a broad crackdown on and dissent.

Turning the flag upside down, trampling on it or replacing its five stars "with five virus shapes” could all be crimes resulting in three years in jail or a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,423), under amendments to the national flag and national emblem bill passed Wednesday (Sept 29) by the Legislative Council.

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