Anthem of Hong Kong

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.

As "March of the Volunteers" is the national anthem of the People's Republic of China, the song have been adopted by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for anthem performance since the Handover of Hong Kong to the nation in year 1997. ^{[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]

History of official anthem adaptions

Under Chinese governance

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]

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 1841 to 1941 and from 1945 to 1997.

Under Japanese governance

• "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 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 portal

• 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. "Hong Kong e-Legislation". www.elegislation.gov.hk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
4. "TV Announcement - National Anthem (Dedication)".
5. "National Flag, Emblem & Anthem of China and Regional Flag & Emblem of Hong Kong SAR - Protocol Division Government Secretariat".
6. "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.
7. "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.
8. 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.
9. "Instrument A405 National Anthem Ordinance". Hong Kong e-Legislation. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
10. 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
11. 港最近比較「煩」 Archived May 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
12. 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.
13. "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.
14. "The Ukrainian Movie Inspiring Hong Kong's Protests". TIME. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
15. Kirby, Jen (12 September 2019). "Hong Kong's protesters created their own "national anthem"". Vox.
16. "Hong Kong protest anthem played at Rugby Sevens series in Korea". koreatimes. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
17. 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.
18. "Hong Kong anthem: Google won't alter search results amid protest song row". BBC News. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2023.