Anthem of Hong Kong explained

Since the Handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has adopted "March of the Volunteers," the national anthem of the People's Republic of China, to be sung as the representative anthem of the Hong Kong SAR.^{[1] [2]} The national anthem of the People's Republic of China is protected by statute in Hong Kong under the National Anthem Ordinance.^[3]

Throughout the history of Hong Kong, the anthem of the ruling sovereign state has always been adopted for use in an official capacity and played on occasions such as major sporting events or ceremonies.

March of the Volunteers

See main article: March of the Volunteers. "March of the Volunteers" has been adopted for official use and played at major sporting events and ceremonies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region internationally, since the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

The national anthem of the People's Republic of China is protected by statute in Hong Kong under the National Anthem Ordinance, and has since begun broadcasting regularly on radio^[8] and television stations including TVB, RTHK, ViuTV and HOY TV before the main news or morning news programmes as mandated by the Hong Kong government since the introduction of the Ordinance in 2020.^[9]

Past representative anthems

Under British governance

As a dependent entity—during British rule from 1841 to 1997, during the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945, and currently ruled by China—the anthem of the ruling sovereign state has been adopted for official use.

• "God Save the King" (alternatively "God Save the Queen" when the British monarch was female), the national anthem of United Kingdom, was used in an official capacity as the representative anthem of British Hong Kong internationally from and from .

Under Japanese governance

• "Kimigayo", the national anthem of the Empire of Japan, during Japan's military occupation of Hong Kong from .

Unofficial anthems

• "Below the Lion Rock", a Cantopop song by Roman Tam, adopted as informal anthem during the 2003 SARS outbreak^{[10] [11]}
• "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies", a song by rock band Beyond, adopted as informal anthem during the 2014 Hong Kong protests^[12]
• "Glory to Hong Kong", a protest song by "Thomas dgx yhl" and netizens on LIHKG that was widely popular during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, with some Hongkongers and supporters of democracy in Hong Kong considering the song an anthem that reflects the identity of Hong Kong.^{[13] [14] [15]} For a long time it was the top result on Google search for "national anthem of Hong Kong," which supposedly contributed to its accidental and controversial playing as the anthem of Hong Kong at several international sports events.^{[16] [17] [18]}

See also

• Hong Kong Flag
• Coat of Arms of Hong Kong

References

1. https://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/tvapi/22_ce216.html
2. https://www.protocol.gov.hk/en/flags-emblems-anthem.html
3. Web site: Hong Kong e-Legislation . 2024-10-12 . www.elegislation.gov.hk.
4. Web site: TV Announcement - National Anthem (Dedication) .
5. Web site: National Flag, Emblem & Anthem of China and Regional Flag & Emblem of Hong Kong SAR - Protocol Division Government Secretariat .
6. Web site: Guidelines on Handling the Playing of the National Anthem and Raising of the Regional Flag for Hong Kong Athletes and Teams Engaging in International Sports Events . 2023-08-31 . The Judo Association of Hong Kong, China.
7. Web site: National Flag, Emblem & Anthem of China and Regional Flag & Emblem of Hong Kong SAR - Protocol Division Government Secretariat . 2023-08-31 . www.protocol.gov.hk . en.
8. News: Hong Kong radio broadcasters to begin playing national anthem every morning in compliance with new law. 7 November 2020. Natalie Wong. South China Morning Post.
9. Web site: Instrument A405 National Anthem Ordinance . 2023-08-31 . Hong Kong e-Legislation.
10. http://www.people.com.cn/BIG5/yule/1085/3075590.html 三大唱片聯推黃霑紀念專輯 51首金曲原汁原味
11. http://finance.eastday.com/epublish/big5/paper110/20010521/class011000007/hwz1034887.htm 港最近比較「煩」
12. News: https://ent.ltn.com.tw/news/paper/817750. zh-hant. zh:黃貫中領唱海闊天空 港民激昂封香港國歌. 自由時報. 1 January 2014. 22 December 2022.
13. 2019-09-12 . Listen to the Song That Hong Kong's Youthful Protesters Are Calling Their 'National Anthem' . https://web.archive.org/web/20220124103722/https://time.com/5672018/glory-to-hong-kong-protests-national-anthem/ . 2022-01-24 . 2022-11-16 . TIME.
14. Web site: 24 September 2019 . The Ukrainian Movie Inspiring Hong Kong's Protests . 14 May 2024 . TIME . en.
15. Web site: Kirby . Jen . 2019-09-12 . Hong Kong's protesters created their own "national anthem" . Vox . en.
16. Web site: 14 November 2022 . Hong Kong protest anthem played at Rugby Sevens series in Korea . 14 May 2024 . koreatimes . en.
17. Web site: Grundy . Tom . 2022-12-03 . Protest song 'Glory to Hong Kong' again played instead of Chinese national anthem at sporting finale . 2023-05-31 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
18. News: 2022-12-15 . Hong Kong anthem: Google won't alter search results amid protest song row . BBC News . 2023-04-11.