Paula Leung, 42, is the first person to be jailed for insulting the national anthem, reports RTHK.

Leung, who had pleaded guilty, waved the flag as the medal ceremony was shown on the Kwun Tong mall's big screen after fencer Edgar Cheung won his gold medal on July 26 last year, the court heard. Hundreds of fans had gathered there to watch Cheung at the Olympics,  reported the website of the Hong Kong's broadcasting service.

The magistrate, while jailing the woman, said she seriously disparaged the anthem and damaged the nation's dignity.

A large number of people had gathered to celebrate Hong Kong's second ever Olympic gold medal and its first in fencing.

Hong Kong is a former British colony.

Hong Kong was returned to Chinese by the United Kingdom in 1997 and has since enjoyed wider autonomy than the rest of Chinese regions. China's central government adheres to the principle of "one country, two systems" in governing Hong Kong.