HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal on May 8 banned Glory To Hong Kong, a protest song penned duringThe song grew massively popular during the huge and at times violent protests, and was secretly recorded by an anonymous orchestra.Angering the city’s government, Glory To Hong Kong has in recent years been played at several international sporting events, with event organisers mistaking it for the Chinese territory’s anthem.
Reversing a lower court’s decision in 2023, appeal judge Jeremy Poon wrote in a judgment that the composer of the song had “intended it to be a ‘weapon’ and so it had become”. The song can also no longer be disseminated or reproduced in any way on internet-based platforms, though the injunction contained exceptions for “academic activity and news activity” – a tweak the government made after earlier questioning by judges.
Soon after the judgment was handed down, the Beijing authorities said the ban was a “necessary measure”. Officials had demanded tech giants such as Google remove the protest song from their search results and video platforms, but were largely rebuffed.May 8’s judgment said an injunction order was “necessary” because internet platform operators – such as Google – “indicated that they are ready to accede to the government’s request if there is a court order”.