An appeals court in Hong Kong has granted the government's request to ban the popular protest song, 'Glory to Hong Kong,' overturning a previous ruling. This decision has raised concerns about the erosion of freedoms in the once freewheeling global financial hub.
The song, which gained popularity during the massive anti-government protests in 2019, was often sung by demonstrators. It was mistakenly played as the city's anthem at international sporting events, causing confusion and upsetting city officials who preferred China's 'March of the Volunteers.'
Critics argue that the ban on the song further restricts freedom of expression, especially in the wake of Beijing's crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong following the 2019 protests. They also fear that the ban could impact the operations of tech giants and diminish the city's appeal as a business center.
Last year, the government took the matter to court after Google resisted pressure to display China's national anthem as the top search result for the city's anthem, instead of the protest song. While a lower court initially rejected the government's bid in July, the recent decision to uphold the ban is seen as a setback for officials aiming to suppress dissidents.
The government's appeal argued that if the executive authority deems a measure necessary, the court should allow it unless it deems it ineffective. The government had previously instructed schools to prohibit the protest song on campuses, citing that while it respects freedoms protected by the city's constitution, 'freedom of speech is not absolute.'
