The Hong Kong Division of Justice applied to the Excessive Courtroom on Monday for an injunction to ban any exercise in relation to the tune “Glory to Hong Kong” with illegal intent. The Hong Kong authorities asserts that the tune accommodates secessionist lyrics and is an insult to the Chinese language nationwide anthem, since “Glory to Hong Kong” is commonly mistaken for Hong Kong’s nationwide anthem. The injunction additionally seeks to take away 32 associated YouTube movies.
The federal government says broadcasting or disseminating the tune’s melody or lyrics with seditious intent can doubtlessly breach a number of legal guidelines in Hong Kong, together with sedition underneath the 2019 National Security Law, which was the topic of enormous protests, and the Crimes Ordinance. The federal government additionally says that the usage of the tune can even violate the National Anthem Ordinance whether it is portrayed as Hong Kong’s nationwide anthem.
Prosecutors have, in a number of circumstances, used the tune as proof of sedition and breaching the National Security Law. In these circumstances, nonetheless, the defendants weren’t convicted based mostly solely on the proof of any actions linked to the tune. A case of insulting the nationwide anthem, charging based mostly solely on publishing the tune, is pending judgment on July 5 this 12 months. The defendant was accused of publishing a video of a Hong Kong Olympic winner attending the awards ceremony with a background music of the Tune.
The breadth of the proposed injunction, if any, can also be unclear. Article 38 of the Hong Kong National Security Law gives that the legislation equally applies to non-residents exterior Hong Kong. Any actions in relation to the tune could also be thought-about an incitement of secession, as supplied underneath Article 21 of the Nationwide Safety Regulation.
Hong Kong protesters wrote the tune in 2019 through the anti-extradition legislation modification invoice motion. The tune was not too long ago mistaken for the nationwide anthem of Hong Kong and performed in a number of worldwide occasions, such because the 2022 Asia Rugby Seven Series and the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championship.
Source / Picture: jurist.org
