Flags, Emblems and Anthem
Flags and Emblems
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR) is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. The national flag and national emblem of the People's Republic of China are a symbol and sign of our country and they symbolize our country and its sovereignty. The Basic Law provides that apart from displaying the national flag and national emblem of the People's Republic of China, the Hong Kong SAR may also use a regional flag and regional emblem. The regional flag and regional emblem are the symbol and sign of the Hong Kong SAR.
The National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance was enacted on 1 July 1997 and was amended on 8 October 2021. The Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance was enacted on 1 July 1997 and was amended on 24 November 2023. The two Ordinances provide for the use and protection of the national flag, national emblem, regional flag and regional emblem in the Hong Kong SAR.
The Chief Executive has also published stipulations that stipulate the organisations which must display or use the national flag, national emblem, regional flag and regional emblem, and the other places at which, the occasions on which, the manner in which and the conditions under which, the national flag, national emblem, regional flag and regional emblem must be displayed or used. The Chief Executive has at the same time published stipulations on the organisations that must use the designs of the national emblem and regional emblem in a prominent position on the home page of their websites, as well as stipulations in relation to the recovery and disposal of national flags, national emblems, regional flags and regional emblems.
This site gives a brief introduction to the national flag, national emblem, regional flag and regional emblem, and their usage. For further details, you may refer to the full version of the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance, the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance and the stipulations.
The National Flag
Specifications for the National Flag
The shape and colour of either side of the national flag shall be identical, whereas the five stars on both sides of the flag shall be opposite to each other. At this site, these specifications shall take the circumstances where the staff is on the left as the basis for illustration.
The face of the flag shall be red and rectangular; the proportions of its length and height shall be 3 to 2. The upper left of the face of the flag shall be studded with five yellow five-pointed stars. One of the stars shall be bigger than the others, with its circumcircle's diameter being 3/10ths of the height of the flag, and shall be placed in the left; the four other stars shall be smaller, with their circumcircle's diameter being 1/10th of the height of the flag, encircling the big star on its right in the shape of an arc. The cover of the staff shall be white.
Standard Sizes of the National Flag
The measurement in common use for the national flag, from which people from various circles may choose at their discretion shall be as follows:
| Length (cm) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|
| 288 | 192 |
| 240 | 160 |
| 192 | 128 |
| 144 | 96 |
| 96 | 64 |
If national flags of nonstandard sizes are required in special circumstances, they are to be of a scaled-up or a scaled-down size. The size of the national flag must be proportional to the staff, and be commensurate with the purpose of use, the surrounding buildings and the surrounding environment.
Download Area for the National Flag
- Standard version of the design of the national flag for online use (at the website of the State Council of the People's Republic of China)
For other details of the specifications for the national flag, please refer to Schedule 1 of the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance (on the website of Hong Kong e-Legislation).
The National Emblem
Specifications for the National Emblem
Two bunches of wheat and rice form a round ring. A cogwheel is placed where the wheat and rice stems cross at the base. Red ribbon forms a knot in the centre of the cogwheel. The red ribbon coils up the wheat and rice on the left and right of the cogwheel and hangs down, dividing the cogwheel into an upper and a lower part.
If a vertical straight line is drawn in the centre of the design, the left and right parts are completely symmetrical.
The national emblem is in red and gold: the wheat and rice, the five stars, Tian'anmen and the cogwheel are in gold, the base of the part within the round ring and the hanging ribbon are in red; the red is the same as the national flag; the gold is pure gold (light and bright).
Standard Sizes of the National Emblem
The diameters of the usual dimensions of the national emblem for display or use are as follows:
-
100 cm
-
80 cm
-
60 cm
If national emblems of nonstandard sizes are required in special circumstances, they are to be of a scaled-up or a scaled-down size, and be commensurate with the purpose of use, the buildings where they are hung and the surrounding environment.
Download Area for the National Emblem
- Standard version of the design of the national emblem for online use (at the website of the State Council of the People's Republic of China)
For other details of the specifications for the national emblem, please refer to Schedule 2 of the National Flag and National Emblem Ordinance (on the website of Hong Kong e-Legislation).
The Regional Flag
Specifications for the Regional Flag of the Hong Kong SAR
The shape and colour on both sides of the regional flag are identical. The bauhinia design on both sides are identical. At this site, only the specifications for the regional flag with the pole standing on its left are listed below.
The regional flag is in red, which is identical with that of the national flag of the People's Republic of China. The regional flag is rectangular in shape with its length/height ratio being 3 to 2. At the centre of the regional flag is a white 5-petal bauhinia in swaying motion. The diameter of its outer circle is 3/5 of the regional flag's height. The petals are evenly arranged round the central point of the regional flag in a clockwise direction. Each petal bears a red 5-pointed star and a red style. The centre of the bauhinia lies on the central point of the regional flag. The case of the pole is in white.
Standard Sizes of the Regional Flag of the Hong Kong SAR
There are eight different standard sizes of the regional flag. Their measurements are as follows:
| Length (cm) | Height (cm) | |
|---|---|---|
| number 1 | 288 | 192 |
| number 2 | 240 | 160 |
| number 3 | 192 | 128 |
| number 4 | 144 | 96 |
| number 5 | 96 | 64 |
| Car Flag | 30 | 20 |
| Flag for Signing Ceremony | 21 | 14 |
| Desk Flag | 15 | 10 |
If regional flags of nonstandard sizes are required in special circumstances, they are to be of a scaled-up or a scaled-down size. The size of the regional flag must be proportional to the staff, and be commensurate with the purpose of use, the surrounding buildings and the surrounding environment.
Download Area for the Regional Flag of the Hong Kong SAR
For other details of the specifications for the regional flag, please refer to Schedule 1 of the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance (at the website of Hong Kong e-Legislation).
The Regional Emblem
Specifications for the Regional Emblem of the Hong Kong SAR
The regional emblem of the Hong Kong SAR is round in shape. It bears a red circular edge, an outer ring marked with scripts, a red inner ring with a design of a swaying bauhinia with 5 star-shaped stamens.
The swaying bauhinia design at the centre of the inner ring of the regional emblem is white in colour. It is formed by 5 petals, each with a red 5-pointed star and a red style. The petals are evenly arranged around the central point of the regional emblem in a clockwise direction. The centre of the bauhinia lies on the central point of the regional emblem.
Standard Sizes of the Regional Emblem of the Hong Kong SAR
There are three standard sizes of the regional emblem. Their measurements are as follows:
| Size 1 | 100 cm in diameter |
| Size 2 | 80 cm in diameter |
| Size 3 | 60 cm in diameter |
If regional emblems of nonstandard sizes are required in special circumstances, they are to be of a scaled-up or a scaled-down size, and be commensurate with the purpose of use, the buildings where they are hung and the surrounding environment.
Download Area for the Regional Emblem of the Hong Kong SAR
For other details of the specifications for the regional emblem, please refer to Schedule 2 of the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance (at the website of Hong Kong e-Legislation).
Etiquette for Taking Part in or Attending National Flag Raising Ceremony and Ceremony in which Regional Flag is raised
When the national flag is being raised during a national flag raising ceremony, the etiquette to be followed by the persons who take part in or attend the ceremony is—
- to stand solemnly facing the national flag;
- to look at the national flag with respectful attention or to salute the national flag in an appropriate manner (as the case requires); and
- to not behave in a way that undermines the dignity of the national flag.
The above etiquette should also be followed by the persons who take part in or attend a ceremony in which the regional flag is raised.
National symbols and signs Belong to Us All. Let’s Respect Them (General version)
National symbols and signs Belong to Us All. Let’s Respect Them (Etiquette version)
Display of the Flags and Emblems
Prohibition on Certain Uses of the Flags and Emblems
The National Anthem
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. The national anthem of the People’s Republic of China is the March of the Volunteers (《義勇軍進行曲》) .
Official Recording of the National Anthem^
- Download instrumental version (wav format) / Download instrumental version (mp3 format)
- Download original version (wav format) / Download original version (mp3 format)
Video of the National Anthem^
(^Source: Website of the PRC Government) (Instructions for downloading the file)
Stave notation of the National Anthem (Schedule 1 of the National Anthem Ordinance)
Numbered musical notation of the National Anthem (Schedule 2 of the National Anthem Ordinance)
Lyrics of the National Anthem (Chinese only, with English translation)
*Source: http://english.www.gov.cn/audio
Standard Score of the National Anthem
National Anthem Ordinance
The National Anthem Ordinance came into effect on 12 June 2020. It provides for the playing and singing of the national anthem; and for the protection and promotion of the national anthem in Hong Kong. The preamble of the National Anthem Ordinance of Hong Kong stipulates that the national anthem is a symbol and sign of the People's Republic of China. All individuals and organizations should respect the national anthem, preserve the dignity of the national anthem, and play and sing the national anthem on appropriate occasions.
Legislative Background
The Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress passed the Law of the People's Republic of China on National Anthem ("National Anthem Law") on 1 September 2017, and added the National Anthem Law to Annex III to the Basic Law on November 4 in the same year. According to Article 18 of the Basic Law, the national laws listed in Annex III to the Basic Law shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the HKSAR. Having regard to the common law system practised in Hong Kong, as well as the actual circumstances in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government decided to implement the National Anthem Law in the HKSAR by local legislation. Upon passage by the Legislative Council, the National Anthem Ordinance came into effect on 12 June 2020.
Standard and Etiquette for Playing and Singing the National Anthem
Section 3 of the National Anthem Ordinance stipulates that the national anthem must be played and sung in a way that is in keeping with its dignity. While the national anthem is being played and sung, the etiquette to be followed by the persons who take part in or attend the occasion is—
- to stand solemnly and deport themselves with dignity; and
- to not behave in a way disrespectful to the national anthem.
For more information of the national anthem, please visit the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. For enquiries, please contact the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau as follows -
12/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices,
2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong
Tel. number: 2810 2059
Email: cmabenq@cmab.gov.hk