National Flag, Emblem Laws repromulgated amid amendments

Following the recent passing of the amendments to the National Flag Law and the National Emblem Law of the People’s Republic of China by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the SAR Government repromulgated the laws in the Official Gazette.
The two laws are among the national laws, regulations and resolutions enacted in the Macau SAR as stipulated in Annex III of the SAR’s Basic Law. The amended laws will be enacted on January 01, 2021.
The promulgated amended National Flag Law requires schools – except on school holidays – to raise the national flag every day. In addition, schools should also hold a flag-raising ceremony once every week, unless there is a holiday.
Where conditions allow, kindergartens and nurseries should follow such stipulations to raise the flag as well.
On important dates, such as festivals and commemoration dates, public entities, civil groups, major plazas and parks should raise the flag. Private enterprises and real estates should also raise the flag on these dates if the condition allows.
Under the law, inverted flags and irresponsible disposal of the national flag are strictly prohibited.
The amendments have also made stipulations more detail oriented. For example, an additional article in the National Flag Law sets forth the five official dimensions of the Chinese flag, which should be complied with most of the time.
If the official dimensions are not applicable on certain occasions, the proportional resizing will be allowed. The conditions for flag-covered coffins at funerals are also stipulated.