‘Very uncomfortable’: Box Hill police station raises Chinese flag to mark China’s national day
A decision to fly the Chinese flag above the Box Hill police station in honour of the country’s national day has raised eyebrows, with people questioning its appropriateness and saying they are “very uncomfortable” at the Victoria Police move.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
The decision to fly the Chinese flag above an eastern suburbs police station in honour of the National Day of the People’s Republic of China has raised concerns from some in the community.
Box Hill police station flew the Chinese flag — alongside the Australian flag — during a ceremony recognising China’s national day and the beginning of the Whitehorse Chinese New Year Festival on Tuesday, October 1.
Not long after it was put up, Whitehorse Leader was contacted by people who said they felt “very uncomfortable” by Victoria Police’s actions.
Box Hill’s Keith Wilkins said he and fellow residents questioned the appropriateness of the Chinese flag being flown above a police station.
“I’m not sure that’s appropriate,” he said.
“People are feeling quite uncomfortable.”
The Box Hill man said he was all for celebrating diversity, having been born overseas himself, but said he wasn’t sure the flag being flown by police “made sense”.
“What’s the purpose?” he said.
“It needs to be understood what we’re trying to do.
“There might be a better way of doing it.”
Mr Wilkins said he had spoken to others who felt “very uncomfortable”, and none of them had ever seen a flag from another country being flown by a police station.
Eastern Region divisional commander Supt Wayne Viney said the flag was raised as part of an event attended by the Whitehorse mayor, state and federal ministers and local business representatives.
“The flag raising ceremony honours the local police station’s strong relationship with the local Chinese community, retailers and local business stakeholders,” he said.
“Box Hill police station acknowledges the significance of this flag to a particular portion of the community without seeking to cause prejudice or offence to others.
“Box Hill police work closely with their local community and the raising of the flag, for one day, represents the commitment Box Hill police has in acknowledging what is an important day for many in their local area.”
MORE: STATION GETS AUSSIE-FIRST POLICE TRAINING
THE BIZARRE LOCATIONS PEOPLE ARE DUMPING TROLLEYS
THIS BUILDING TAKES TINY HOUSE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
Supt Viney said Victoria Police acknowledged concerns about the use of the flag, and would continue to assess the appropriateness of raising it above the police station.
The adverse reaction to the celebratory move comes after a Whitehorse councillor pushed for the council to stop flying the same flag over Box Hill Town Hall in December, saying he’d received numerous complaints from residents.
Cr Blair Barker wanted to ban the flying of flags of other nations above Box Hill Town Hall unless approved by council vote.
He said he received a number of angry phone calls from residents after the Chinese flag was flown atop the hall on October 1 last year.
At the meeting, Cr Andrew Davenport said only the flags “commonly accepted by all members of the community and not some” should be flown without the approval of the majority of councillors.
But the motion was voted down by the majority of councillors.
Whitehorse Council would not comment on Victorian Police’s decision to fly the flag, but the decision to fly the flag above the town hall last year was made by the chief executive in conjunction with the mayor.
Mayor Bill Bennett said with the death of Healesville Aboriginal leader Aunty Dot last month “notification was received from the Department of Premier and Cabinet to fly flags at half-mast which occurred. The Asian Business Association of Whitehorse made the decision to not fly the flag.”