Hong Kong passes China national anthem bill amid protests

Hong Kong's legislature has approved a contentious bill that makes it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem, a move critics see as the latest sign of Beijing's tightening grip on the city.

The bill was approved on Thursday with 41 in favor and one against.

The move came as people in Hong Kong were set to light candles across the city to commemorate the 1989 crackdown by Chinese troops in and around Tiananmen Square.

At the start of Thursday's legislative session, pro-democracy legislators stood in silence to mark the anniversary and put up signs on their desks that said: "Do not forget June 4, the hearts of the people will not die"