The popular protest anthem, ‘Glory to Hong Kong,’ seems to be rapidly disappearing from the digital realm as the Hong Kong government intensifies its efforts to impose a total ban. According to Malay Mail’s report, numerous versions of this pro-democracy anthem have been taken off from major online platforms, including Apple’s iTunes Store, Spotify, Facebook, and Instagram.
The Taiwanese rock band, The Chairman’s version of the anthem, was the only one visible during searches on iTunes and Spotify, replacing the original and its variants. This anthem was once the unofficial musical emblem of the city’s heated pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The track’s unavailability on Spotify came after its distributor pulled it off rather than the platform itself. DGX Music, the creators of the song, apologized for the inconvenience on their Facebook page, citing technical issues unrelated to the streaming platform.
The government’s move to obtain an injunction against the song follows incidents where it was mistakenly played at various global events, including rugby and ice hockey matches. The melody had previously been banned in schools post-2020 when China imposed a national security law to stifle dissent.
John Lee, the city’s leader, justified the move, stating that the song was incompatible with national interests. He stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is obligated to safeguard national security proactively and preventively.
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However, critics and rights groups like Amnesty International argue that a song poses no threat to national security. The ban raises fresh concerns about the erosion of freedom of speech, promised under the ‘one country, two systems’ formula upon Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule in 1997.
As part of the proposed ban, the government aims to stop the song’s performance and dissemination, including its melody, lyrics, and any adaptations, online or offline. The injunction application, set to be heard by the High Court on July 21, also lists 32 YouTube videos related to the song.
The song continues to enjoy popularity, dominating the top 10 in Apple’s Hong Kong iTunes Store as residents scramble to buy the song in response to the proposed ban. Internationally, supporters are urging radio stations to broadcast the song, and several stations in Australia, France, Ukraine, Denmark, and Estonia have played it.
Tech giants Apple, KKBOX, and Google have yet to comment on the issue. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has declined to comment.
The news is based on Malay Mail.
