Global Courant
HONG KONG — Hong Kongers rushed to download a song linked to the 2019 protests after the government tried to get the courts to ban the unofficial anthem.
Variations of Glory to Hong Kong accounted for all top 10 slots on Apple’s iTunes charts in the city on Wednesday. Each issue costs between HK$6 and HK$8 (S$1 to S$1.35) to purchase.
The Justice Department filed for a court order on Monday to prohibit anyone with criminal intent from broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, to give or reproduce”.
This includes using any internet-based platform, according to a government statement on Tuesday.
Glory to Hong Kong sparked a confrontation between the government and Alphabet’s Google in 2022 after it appeared at the top of searches for Hong Kong’s national anthem, instead of China’s March of the Volunteers.
Google’s apparent refusal to change the results came after the protest song was accidentally played at a number of international sporting events.
According to the government statement, a court order would prohibit anyone from playing the song, for example if the user had inflammatory intent or if the song was likely to be mistaken for Hong Kong’s national anthem.
“To knowingly authorize, allow or allow others to commit or participate in any of the acts” would also not be allowed, the statement said.
Hong Kong officials, buoyed by Beijing-mandated national security law, have taken an increasingly tough approach to symbols associated with dissent.
On Sunday, police stopped people to commemorate the 34th anniversary of China’s crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. More than 20 people were detained, including those holding flowers or candles.
Mr. Ronny Tong, senior counsel and member of the government’s advisory executive council, said removal was the safest option for anyone who downloaded the song, according to the South China Morning Post. BLOOMBERG
