Human rights — Freedom of expression — Flag desecration — Guarantees of right to freedom of expression — Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Basic Law”), Articles 39 and 27 — International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 (“ICCPR”), Article 19 — National laws criminalizing flag desecration — Whether inconsistent with guarantee of freedom of expression — Whether restriction on freedom of expression necessary for protection of public order — Whether restriction justified under Article 19(3) of ICCPR — Whether national laws unconstitutional

Relationship of international law and municipal law — National laws criminalizing flag desecration — Basic Law — ICCPR — Basic Law applying ICCPR to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region — Guarantees of right to freedom of expression — Whether restriction in national laws justifiable — Whether national laws violating Basic Law — Whether national laws unconstitutional

States — Sovereignty — Transfer of sovereignty — People's Republic of China resuming sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 — New constitutional order — National and regional flags and emblems — Symbols of People's Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region — Whether interests in protecting flags legitimate — The law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region