The popular protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” has been removed from all platforms due to a court ban in the city. The song, which advocates for Hong Kong’s separation from China, has been removed from iTunes and Apple Music in various regions, and most versions are unavailable on Spotify in Hong Kong. An appeals court granted the government’s request to ban the distribution of the song, prompting the distributor to remove the music from all platforms. The group that created the song, Dgxmusic, expressed opposition to this decision by EmuBands, the distributor. The group hopes to have the song reinstated as soon as possible.
The ban on “Glory to Hong Kong” sought by the government has raised concerns over a further decline in the city’s freedom of expression and internet freedom. Critics have also warned that it might disrupt the operation of tech giants and undermine the city’s appeal as a global financial hub. Last week, YouTube blocked access to 32 videos of the song that were deemed to be “prohibited publications” under the injunction for viewers in the city. Despite being disappointed by the court’s decision, YouTube said it would continue to consider its options. Hong Kong leader John Lee stated that the government would monitor internet platforms for any non-compliance with the court order.
“Glory to Hong Kong” is widely seen as the anthem of the 2019 protest movement in Hong Kong, which was followed by a government crackdown that has all but erased dissenting voices in the city. The song has also caused controversy when mistakenly played as the city’s official anthem at international sporting events, instead of China’s national anthem, “March of the Volunteers.” The government went to court last year after Google resisted pressure to display China’s national anthem as the top result in searches for the city’s anthem instead of the protest song.
EmuBands, the distributor of “Glory to Hong Kong,” is based in Glasgow, Britain, and did not immediately comment on the decision to remove the song from all platforms. The song itself is not banned by the injunction, and Dgxmusic hopes to have it reinstated as soon as possible. The ban on the song has sparked further concerns about the city’s freedom of expression and internet freedom, as well as its appeal as a global financial hub. The government’s crackdown on dissenting voices in the city has made the song a symbol of the 2019 protest movement.
The removal of “Glory to Hong Kong” from all platforms comes after an appeals court granted the government’s request to prohibit its broadcast or distribution. Despite the ban, there is hope that the song will be reinstated in the future. The decision to remove the song has sparked concerns about the city’s freedom of expression and internet freedom, as well as its status as a global financial hub. The government’s crackdown on dissenting voices has further fueled opposition to the ban, which has led to the removal of the song from various platforms.
