Columnist Qu Yingyan wrote an article in the newspaper today (15th), saying that she was angry after hearing about a friend's experience recently. During the National Day, the Shatin District Office and the Shatin Corporation jointly organized many celebrations for the National Day. The owners' committee of the housing estate where they lived also responded and hung banners celebrating the National Day in the community.
However, some people complained that the National Day banner was a political issue and should not be allowed into the housing estate. The complaint was approved by the Civil Affairs Department, and the reply was that celebrating the National Day was a political issue, and the owners' committee should first consult all the owners for their opinions.
Qu described it as a miracle in the article, and also called civil servants "political neutrality" for loyalty, but Hong Kong civil servants have used "political neutrality" to avoid loyalty for many years.
However, the Home Affairs Department uploaded a large number of national flag pictures on the Facebook page this afternoon. Some of the photos were taken in Shatin District. The post clarified that there has been a recent rumor that the Shatin District Office handled a case of hanging in a housing estate. When complaining about the national flag, the reply indicated that they agreed that the flying of the national flag is a political issue, and the business owners should be consulted before the national flag can be displayed with the consent of the residents.
Qu Yingyan wrote an article saying that "political neutrality is both a curse and a shield"
Qu Yingyan wrote an article in Ta Kung Pao today, titled "Political Neutrality is a Curse and a Shield". The article mentioned that she recently heard about a friend's experience and pointed out that during the National Day, there were many joint ventures between the Shatin District Office and the Shatin Corporation. To celebrate the National Day, the owners' committee of the housing estate where his friend lived also responded and hung banners celebrating the National Day in the community.
Qu "Friends" Housing Estates Committee hangs banners celebrating the National Day and the Civil Affairs Office points out that all owners should be consulted on political issues
However, some people complained that the National Day banner was a political issue and should not be allowed into the housing estate. The complaint was approved by the Civil Affairs Department, and the reply was that celebrating the National Day was a political issue, and the owners' committee should first consult all the owners for their opinions.
Qu Yingyan questioned who offended this five-star red flag and this 11th National Day?
She pointed out that "political neutrality" has always been the curse of Hong Kong civil servants, and it is also their shield: "If you want to hang the national flag, you can scare you to be neutral in politics; if you don't want to hang the national flag, you can say that politics must be neutral. No matter how you use it, you can try everything. ."
Home Affairs Department: Relevant claims are by no means factual and false
Later, the Home Affairs Department uploaded a post on Facebook "The Home Affairs Department supports the display of National Day decorations to share the joy of National Day", clarifying that the content is similar to the situation mentioned in Qu Yingyan's article.
According to the post, it has been circulated recently that when the Shatin District Office handled a complaint about the flag flying in a housing estate, it replied to the management office and the owners’ committee that they agreed that the flag flying is a political issue, and the owners should be consulted before they can be hung with the consent of the residents. flag.
The Home Affairs Department hereby clarifies that the statement is by no means factual, and it is a false rumor.
District Office displays photos of flags being widely displayed in parks and waterfront promenades in Sha Tin District
The Home Affairs Department pointed out that, in fact, the complaint had nothing to do with the flying of the national flag, but rather the display of banners celebrating the National Day.
When the District Office relayed the complaint to the property management of the relevant housing estate, it has clearly stated that the District Office supports the display of banners celebrating the National Day in housing estates, so as to share the joy of the National Day with the residents.
There are a lot of photos of national flags and banners celebrating the National Day in the post. The Home Affairs Department explained that, in addition to the above-mentioned banners to celebrate the National Day displayed in housing estates jointly with OCs, the Home Affairs Office also placed them in different places in the district, including community halls, Public housing estates, sports grounds, parks, waterfront promenades, schools, etc. widely display national flags and other festivals to celebrate the National Day with the public.
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau once again stated that the Civil Affairs Team, including the 18 District District Offices, has been supporting and encouraging all walks of life to express patriotism through the display of the national flag and other festivals, and to share the joy of the National Day with the public.
The St. Francis Xavier incident, Leung Mei-fen said that the national flag law, not the national security law, urges the Education Bureau to raise school awareness There is a street lamp applied by non-governmental organizations to hang multiple pictures. The National Day is approaching, and the national flag is flying. The regional flag is all over Hong Kong.