Days after Hong Kong’s local government filed a ban on a protest song from the democracy movement, it has started to disappear from several major music platforms, according to CNN.
The song “Glory to Hong Kong” was sung by demonstrators during protests and rallies as the unofficial anthem since its creation in 2019. On Wednesday, the song and its renditions were no longer accessible to users within the city on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Google, according to CNN.
The song’s lyrics included the protest slogan “liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” which the government and courts declared to be subversive, leading it to be banned in 2020, according to a government statement.
The U.S., South Korea and Australia still have the ability to display the title of the song but cannot play it on Spotify, which Spotify told CNN is caused by the distributor, not the platform, pulling the music.
The song is no longer available on Apple Music in Taiwan, but there are still playable versions of the song on YouTube, according to CNN.
HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 01: Demonstrators take part in a protest against the new national security law on July 1, 2020 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
“Glory to Hong Kong” became a resistance anthem in 2020 when a sweeping national security law was imposed on the city by Beijing. This led to protests, censorship and an increase in laws to “safeguard national security.” (RELATED: 1 Country, 1 System: How The Chinese Communist Party Ended Hong Kong’s Democracy)
After the protest song was accidentally played at sporting events, Hong Kong’s administration filed an injunction on June 5 to ban its broadcast or distribution, according to CNN.
The Hong Kong Department of Justice requested an injunction that would ban the song’s “melody or lyrics or in combination” in order to avoid “inciting others to commit secession.” The injunction also prevents “broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing (the song) in any way.”
The High Court heard the government’s request to have the song banned on Monday, but the judge has adjourned the hearing until July 21, according to Hong Kong Free Press.
Sarah Brooks, the director of Amnesty International’s China section, called the government’s decision to suppress the song “absurd.”
“The Hong Kong administration has to stop its ruthless suppression of free speech. The ability of citizens to voice diverse political opinions cannot be restricted due to concerns about national security,” Brooks told CNN
Spotify, Google and Apple Music did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.