On Wednesday, Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal announced the ban of the widely circulated song “Glory to Hong Kong” at the request of the Hong Kong government. This decision overturned a previous court ruling and deepened concerns about the further erosion of freedom in Hong Kong. The U.S. State Department condemned the court’s decision.
This marks the first time since the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to Chinese rule in 1997 that a song has been banned in the city. In 2019, Hong Kong saw massive protests against the proposed extradition bill, with protesters frequently singing “Glory to Hong Kong.”
Critics argue that the ban on playing or distributing the song further restricts freedom of speech following Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong since the 2019 protests. They also warn that the ban could disrupt the operations of tech giants and damage Hong Kong’s appeal as a commercial hub.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed serious concerns about the erosion of human rights and basic freedoms in Hong Kong. He stated in Washington, D.C., “The decision to ban this song is the latest blow to the city’s international reputation, which was previously proud of having an independent judiciary to protect the freedom of information, ideas, and goods exchange.”
The ban prohibits the song from being broadcast, performed, printed, published, sold, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or copied in any way, with non-compliance potentially being seen as contempt of court and punishable by fines or imprisonment.
Following the ruling, Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Court of Appeal Jeremy Poon stated, “We accept the assessment of the executive branch that prosecution alone appears insufficient to address serious criminal matters and that interim injunctions are urgently required.”
Local media had previously reported that the Hong Kong government had arrested residents for performing the song in public without permission, among other charges.
Eric Lai, a researcher at the Georgetown University Asian Law Center, pointed out that even though in other jurisdictions it’s common for the judiciary to respect the executive in national security matters, the Hong Kong court failed to strike a balance in protecting citizens’ fundamental rights, including freedom of speech.
Human rights organization Amnesty International called the ban a “meaningless attack” on freedom of speech, violating international human rights law. Amnesty International China Program Director Sarah Brooks stated in a release on the organization’s website, “The Hong Kong government’s action to ban the song is absurd and dangerous. Prohibiting ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ not only meaninglessly attacks freedom of speech of Hong Kongers but also violates international human rights law.”
“Today’s victory in the government’s appeal, following a defeat in the lower court last year, is a worrying sign that the authorities are becoming increasingly unwilling to respect human rights and fulfill their obligations,” she stated.
As of around 3 pm on Wednesday, “Glory to Hong Kong” was still available on Spotify and Apple Music in both English and Cantonese. Searching for the song on YouTube also displayed various videos and covers.
Google stated in an email to the Associated Press that they are “reviewing the court’s decision.” Spotify and Apple did not immediately comment.
In early 2023, Google resisted pressure to remove the song at the Hong Kong government’s request, leading to a lawsuit being filed by the government in Hong Kong courts. In July 2023, the lower court rejected the government’s initial request, seen as a setback for Hong Kong officials attempting to quell dissent following the protests.
Beijing implemented a comprehensive National Security Law in 2020, using it to arrest many key pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong, drawing widespread criticism from the international community. In March 2024, the Hong Kong government enacted a Local Security Law, heightening concerns about further restrictions on the civil liberties of Hong Kong residents.