Hong Kong bans protest song; will monitor for non-compliance

The 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong. File pic/X

Hong Kong's leader said Tuesday his administration would keep monitoring for any non-compliance with a court order that bans a popular protest song, days after YouTube blocked access to dozens of videos of the tune in the city.

The ban targets anyone who broadcasts or distributes ‘Glory to Hong Kong', popularly sung during huge anti-government protests in 2019 to advocate for the separation of the city from China. It also prohibits any actions that misrepresent the song as the national anthem with the intent to insult the anthem.

In his weekly news briefing, Chief Executive John Lee said if the government found any instances of non-compliance, it would then notify the relevant internet platforms about the content of the injunction.

"I believe that operators in general operate within the law, so we will continue to monitor the situation," Lee said. The court ban sought by the government has raised concerns over a further decline in the city's freedom of expression and internet freedom.

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