Hong Kong Protesters Boo China National Anthem Before Soccer Match
Hong Kong’s protesters made their presence felt in a sports stadium and shopping malls on September 10.
Soccer fans attending a match drowned out the pre-game Chinese national anthem with loud booing.
Protesters have also staged flash events in shopping malls, singing Glory to Hong Kong which has become an unofficial anthem of the protest movement.
The protesters won a major concession last week when the extradition bill which sparked the unrest was scrapped.
However, this has failed to end the unrest as protesters continue to demand full democracy and an investigation into allegations of police abuses.
On September 10, thousands of protesters gathered in shopping malls across Hong Kong chanting slogans and singing Glory to Hong Kong.
In the popular shopping district of Mongkok, a sea of protesters dressed in black were seen congregating across the different levels of one mall.
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“Go Hong Kong” is a phrase that has been used frequently as a sign of encouragement.
Shopping malls have been the scene of clashes in recent weeks, with one incident in July seeing riot police fight battles with protesters inside a mall in the district of Sha Tin.
However, the recent events have played out peacefully.
Glory to Hong Kong was written by a local musician in response to calls for an anthem for protesters.
The lyrics include lines such as “Do you feel the rage in our cries? Rise up and speak up” and “persevere, for we are as one”.
The new rallying cry has joined other popular songs used by the protest movement, including Do You Hear the People Sing? from musical Les Miserables and the Christian hymn Sing Hallelujah to the Lord.
It was also heard at the Hong Kong v. Iran soccer match on September 10 at Hong Kong Stadium.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier saw thousands of protesting booing when the Chinese national anthem played before the start of the game.
It is not the first time people in Hong Kong have been heard booing the Chinese anthem – though it is not clear how long they might be able to do this.
In 2017, China passed a law making it illegal to disrespect the anthem, but the law has yet to be passed in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, formerly a British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Under the “one country, two systems” rule, Hong Kong is granted a high level of autonomy, an independent judiciary and rights such as freedom of speech.
However, those freedoms – the Basic Law – expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong’s status will then be.
There has been growing anti-mainland sentiment in recent years, and anger at what many feel is increasing mainland interference in Hong Kong affairs.