HONG KONG’S leader said yesterday that the city’s residents must “say no” to attempts to threaten China’s sovereignty after football supporters booed the national anthem the night before.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who was elected ealier this year, told the autonomous Legislative Council parliament that people living in Hong Kong are obliged to reject “any attempt to threaten our country's sovereignty, security and development interests.”

At an Asian Cup qualifying match between Hong Kong and Malaysia on Tuesday night, fans jeered and turned their backs to the pitch when the "March of the Volunteers" national anthem was played before the game.