Anthem of Hong Kong
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Throughout the history of Hong Kong as a colony, dependent territory or occupied territory, it has had its own flag in almost all periods, but it has never had its own official national anthem nor regional anthem.[1][2][3] Instead, 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. However, a number of popular anthems have been adopted by segments of the population as representative anthems, and are listed under the "unofficial national anthems" section below.
Official representative anthems of Hong Kong
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 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]
Historical anthems
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 1841 to 1941 and from 1945 to 1997.
- "Kimigayo", the national anthem of the Empire of Japan, during Japan's military occupation of Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945.
Unofficial anthems
- "Below the Lion Rock", a Cantopop song by Roman Tam, adopted as a representative anthem during the 2003 SARS outbreak[10][11]
- "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies", a song by rock band Beyond, adopted as a representative anthem during the 2014 Hong Kong protests[12]
- "Glory to Hong Kong", a protest song by "Thomas dgx yhl" and the netizens on LIHKG was widely popular during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests and was subsequently controversially played as the anthem of Hong Kong at several international sporting events. Some Hongkongers and supporters of democracy in Hong Kong consider the song an anthem that reflects the identity of Hong Kong.[13][14][15][16][17][18] For a long time it was the top result on Google search for "national anthem of Hong Kong," supposedly contributing to its misuse in international sports events.[19][20][21]
References
- ^ "Hong Kong protest anthem's online presence fades as government seeks total ban". Reuters. 15 June 2023.
Hong Kong does not have its own anthem.
- ^ "Hong Kong Bid to Ban Protest Song Spurs Fear of Google Pullout". Bloomberg. 12 June 2023.
While the city has its own currency, legal system and flag, it never had its own national anthem.
- ^ "As government seeks total ban, online presence of HK protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" slowly disappears". Dimsum Daily. 14 June 2023.
Hong Kong does not have its own anthem
- ^ "TV Announcement - National Anthem (Dedication)".
- ^ "National Flag, Emblem & Anthem of China and Regional Flag & Emblem of Hong Kong SAR - Protocol Division Government Secretariat".
- ^ "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" (PDF). The Judo Association of Hong Kong, China. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "National Flag, Emblem & Anthem of China and Regional Flag & Emblem of Hong Kong SAR - Protocol Division Government Secretariat". www.protocol.gov.hk. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Natalie Wong (7 November 2020). "Hong Kong radio broadcasters to begin playing national anthem every morning in compliance with new law". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Instrument A405 National Anthem Ordinance". Hong Kong e-Legislation. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ 三大唱片聯推黃霑紀念專輯 51首金曲原汁原味 Archived February 4, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 港最近比較「煩」 Archived May 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 黃貫中領唱海闊天空 港民激昂封香港國歌 (in Traditional Chinese). 自由時報. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ 中英韓文網上搜「香港國歌」 《榮光》居前 Google為例 IT界：欲不顯示《榮光》理論上需下架 (in Traditional Chinese). 明報. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ Google搜香港國歌 「願榮光」居前 專家：刪除不易 (in Traditional Chinese). 聯合新聞網. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Listen to the Song That Hong Kong's Youthful Protesters Are Calling Their 'National Anthem'". TIME. 12 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ Hong Kong's Summer of Unrest Has Been Drawing Inspiration From Ukraine's Winter on Fire, Time, 2019-09-24
- ^ Hong Kong protest anthem played at Rugby Sevens series in Korea, The Korea Times, 2022-11-15
- ^ Kirby, Jen (12 September 2019). "Hong Kong's protesters created their own "national anthem"". Vox.
- ^ Siu, Darerca; Pang, Jessie; Pang, Jessie (12 December 2022). "Google refused Hong Kong request over protest anthem - HK official". Reuters. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ Grundy, Tom (3 December 2022). "Protest song 'Glory to Hong Kong' again played instead of Chinese national anthem at sporting finale". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong anthem: Google won't alter search results amid protest song row". BBC News. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
