Judge Defies China Pressure To Ban Hong Kong Protest Song

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

HONG KONG (Worthy News) – Hong Kong’s high court has rejected a mainland China-backed government attempt to ban a protest song, Glory to Hong Kong. It became the unofficial anthem after the 2019 pro-democracy protests and ensuing crackdown.

The court said an injunction could create a “chilling effect” and undermine freedom of expression on the island.

The government sought an injunction banning the online publication or distribution of the song, arguing it insulted China’s national anthem and could give people the impression that Hong Kong was an independent country.

China-ruled Hong Kong does not have its anthem, but as Chinese territory since its return from British rule in 1997, it uses China’s anthem.

The protest song was widely sung and played during the city’s months-long pro-democracy and anti-China protests in 2019.

It was later deemed unlawful as China imposed a national security law on the financial hub as part of a crackdown on dissent that has worried the international community.

In a written judgment rejecting the injunction, High Court Judge Anthony Chan wrote: “The court recognized the engagement of the right to freedom of expression in the consideration of this application.”

He noted the “chilling effects” that might be generated if the injunction was granted.

Yet commentators warned the court’s decision on Friday does not mean that foreign tech giants can, from now on, let down their guard in Hong Kong.

They suggested that political challenges surrounding their operations in the financial hub still linger as questions remain about the future direction of Hong Kong.

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