UPDATE - Court bans ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ protest song

UPDATES WITH OFFICIAL STATEMENT, CHINA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMENT; CHANGES HEADER, DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Hong Kong court on Wednesday allowed the regional government to ban a protest song “Glory to Hong Kong,” an official statement said.

The approval was granted by an Appeals Court after Hong Kong Justice Department had sought an injunction to ban the son, which was popular during the 2019 anti-government demonstrations.

However, last year, a lower court noted free speech concerns after the semi-autonomous government had moved to ban the song.

The government lawyer had told the court that the song composer had called it a “weapon” that he “contributed to the 2019 protests.”

Hong Kong witnessed massive anti-government protests in 2019, following which China imposed a controversial national security law in 2020. Hong Kong has implemented its own version of the law this year.

The song contains "liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” phrases which were witnessed during the demonstrations.

A government spokesman said the broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing in any way (including on the internet and/or any media accessible online and/or any internet-based platform or medium) of the song is prohibited.

It has cited concerns that the song has been misrepresented as the city’s anthem.

The song was played at several events instead of China’s anthem, March of the Volunteers.

China called the Hong Kong government’s move to ban the song “legitimate.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said it was the regional government’s “constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security and the dignity of the national anthem.”

It is “only necessary” for the Hong Kong government “to stop anyone from using and disseminating relevant songs to incite secession and insult the national anthem,” he told reporters in Beijing.