Hong Kong schools have been ordered to display the Chinese flag and sing the Chinese national anthem as the city begins enforcing a controversial anthem law

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images

• Hong Kong's education department has ordered elementary and middle schools across the city to display the Chinese national flag and sing the Chinese national anthem during special occasions.
• The new guidelines enforce a controversial new law passed earlier this month that makes insulting China's national anthem a crime punishable by fines of up to HK$50,000 (around $6,400), or up to three years in prison.
• While Hong Kong has more autonomy than the rest of the country, recent legislation from Beijing has sought to erode this status, prompting widespread dissent.
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Hong Kong's Education Bureau introduced new guidelines on Thursday calling for all elementary and middle schools in the semi-autonomous Chinese city to follow new legislation that came into effect on June 12. 

The legislation, called the "National Anthem Ordinance," states that anyone who insults or commercially misuses China's national anthem — March of the Volunteers — can be punished with fines of up to HK$50,000 (around $6,400), or up to three years in prison.

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