A Hong Kong appeals court ruled on Wednesday that a protest song widely used as an anthem for Hong Kong's 2019 pro-democracy movement is now banned, reversing an earlier decision that dismissed the city government's bid to ban the song.
The ban on the song "Glory to Hong Kong" is seen as further undermining freedom of expression in the semiautonomous region of China.
It criminalizes the broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, distributing and reproducing of the song in any way, including online, with exceptions granted only to lawful journalistic and academic activities.
In June last year, the territory's government sought a court order to ban the song after it was mistakenly played as China's national anthem at several international sporting events. The prohibition also encompasses the melody, lyrics and any adaptations of the song.
Many protesters sang the song, the lyrics of which refer to the "tears and blood" shed by "martyrs" in the fight for freedom and a liberated Hong Kong.
Last July, the Hong Kong High Court dismissed the government's bid to ban the song, expressing concern about the potential suppression of free speech. However, the government was granted an opportunity to contest the court's ruling.
In Wednesday's judgment, the court pointed out that the song had been used as a "weapon" to "propel the violent protests plaguing Hong Kong since 2019," carrying the effect of justifying, romanticizing and glorifying the pro-democracy movement.
The latest ruling added that the song could be used to "arouse anti-establishment sentiment" and advocate for the separation of Hong Kong from China. The court concluded it must "intervene immediately" to prevent such acts and determined that an injunction is necessary.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian welcomed the Hong Kong court's ruling, saying at a press conference in Beijing that measures to stop attempts to incite division and insult China's national anthem are "legitimate."
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