Hong Kong Govt Moves Court To Ban Protest Song To Prevent People From Insulting China's National Anthem

The Hong Kong government has sought a ban from the court on the protest "anthem" to prevent people from inciting secession or disrespecting China's national anthem.

Protesters raise their hands as they sing the 'Glory to Hong Kong' protest "anthem" during a demonstration in Times Square shopping mall on September 12, 2019 in Hong Kong, China.

Source : Getty Images

The government of Hong Kong on Tuesday said that it has asked a court to ban a protest song in a bid to prevent people from inciting secession or insulting China's national anthem, stated a report by Reuters. Notably, Hong Kong does not have its own anthem and the protest anthem was played mistakenly instead of the Chinese national anthem "March of the Volunteers", after the Hong Kong ice hockey team beat Iran at an international competition, the report added. 

"Recently, the song has also been mistakenly presented as the 'national anthem of Hong Kong' repeatedly," the government said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. 

"This has not only insulted the national anthem but also caused serious damage to the country and the HKSAR," it further said. 

Now, the city's top sports federation reprimanded the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association and updated guidelines to require teams to boycott award ceremonies at international competitions until organisers agree to let them ensure the song will not be played. 

Meanwhile, Reuters stated that Google said it would not change its search results to display China's national anthem, rather than a protest song, when users search for Hong Kong's national anthem. 

The protest song, "Glory to Hong Kong" was written in 2019, just as the protests erupted here against a now-withdrawn extradition bill that allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.  

Later, China imposed a sweeping national security law on the financial hub to punish what it defined as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. The song was subsequently banned in schools in 2020. 

Now the government has said it is awaiting directions from the court and a hearing date is yet to be fixed. 

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