The government said on Friday it will come up with a system to deal with individuals and organisations who want to hang national flags off lampposts in displays of patriotism, including a mechanism to waive administrative and inspection fees.

This came after Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday instructed the Highways Department to waive fees for a group that had hung flags over roads in the New Territories to celebrate National Day last year, saying the government encourages such displays to express patriotic feelings to mark special occasions.

In a statement, a government spokesman said it is official policy to promote education on patriotism, and it will “formulate an appropriate system to handle the necessary follow-up on national flags being hung, including the proper handling of the national flags hung by community organisations and members of the public.”

“The aim is to encourage various sectors of the community to, on the one hand, express patriotic feelings on the premise of respecting the national flag and, on the other, ensure that the activities concerned are conducted and arrangements made in a proper, safe and orderly manner,” the spokesman added.