December 15, 2022

Why Hong Kong censors the unofficial national anthem

topic:	Freedom of Expression
located:	Hong Kong
editor:	Sun Ma

What is the national anthem of Hong Kong? Officially, it does not exist. However, an online search will return the pro-democracy protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” as the highest-viewed result. This is a constant headache for the Hong Kong government, which tries, exaggeratedly, to ban the song from being used to represent the country.

On 2 December, for example, Hong Kong athlete Susanna Lin won a gold medal at the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championship in Dubai. Instead of playing the Chinese national anthem, the organisation played the melody that reminds many Hong Kongers of the 2019 protests against China’s suppression of human rights. This is the second incident of this kind this year, the first occurring at the Asian Rugby Seven Series in Incheon in mid-November.

The Hong Kong government issued swift statements towards both incidents expressing that it “strongly deplores and opposes” the playing of the song. Government officials even claimed that the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau of the Police would investigate the incidents. In response to the government’s fury, the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee promptly issued a new guideline to handle the playing of the national anthem in international sports events.

The song “Glory to Hong Kong” is, according to the government, “closely associated with violent protests and the ‘independence’ movement in 2019.” To many, the lyrics resonate with their identity and memory, much more than the Chinese national anthem “March of the Volunteers.”

Yet, the song can no longer be heard in the streets of Hong Kong today as police are ordered to intervene when it is played in public, despite the fact that no authorities have confirmed the illegality of the protest song. Nonetheless, a man was arrested for sedition on 21 November over social media posts about thanking South Korea for “recognising Hong Kong’s national anthem.”

What is even more absurd is that the Hong Kong government is reportedly in talks with Google and YouTube on preventing the song from appearing in search results for “Hong Kong national anthem.” However, since there truly is no national Hong Kong anthem, banning something that never exists is impossible and browsing results only come with the most popular clicks. Ironically, the Hong Kong government’s overreaction against this song only serves to increase its searches and plays.

As a necessary pillar of human rights and also a fundamental right guaranteed by Hong Kong’s Basic Law, freedom of speech must be protected and songs commemorating important Hong Kong history should not be censored. Singing a song and speeches about it should not be prosecuted. A song can never be violent but it can carry loads of meanings which impact people and the world. Those who fear a song and try to mute it may only make it louder and stronger.

Photo by Andi Winata

Call to Action

Protect press freedom in Hong Kong

Support now