HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader said Tuesday that his administration will continue to monitor any breaches of a court order banning a popular protest song, days after YouTube blocked access to dozens of videos of the song in the city.
The ban targets anyone who broadcasts or distributes “Glory to Hong Kong,” popularly sung during large anti-government protests in 2019, to advocate for the city’s separation from China. It also prohibits any action that misrepresents the song as the national anthem with the intent to insult the anthem.
In his weekly press briefing, CEO John Lee said that if the government found any cases of non-compliance, it would notify relevant internet platforms about the content of the court order.
“I think operators generally operate within the law, so we will continue to monitor the situation,” Lee said.
The government-requested court ban has raised concerns about a further decline in free speech and internet freedom in the city. Critics have also warned it could disrupt the operations of tech giants and undermine the city’s appeal as a global financial center.
Last week, YouTube blocked access to 32 videos of the song that were deemed “prohibited posts” under the court order for viewers in the city. The technology company said it was disappointed by the court’s decision and would continue to consider its appeal options.
At the press conference, Lee said that there is no link related to the song displayed on any local platform and that “Google search does not show any link to the song in question.”
The Associated Press found videos of the song on YouTube Tuesday morning. The song is also available on Spotify and Apple Music.
It is unclear whether the tech giants will block access to further video or audio clips of the song for Hong Kong viewers. Google, Spotify and Apple did not immediately comment.
“Glory to Hong Kong” is widely considered the protest anthem of the 2019 movement, which was followed by a crackdown that virtually erased dissenting voices in the city.
Instances of the song being mistakenly played as the city anthem at international sporting events, instead of China’s national anthem, “March of the Volunteers,” have also angered city officials.
The government went to court last year after Google resisted pressure to display China’s national anthem as the top result in searches for the city anthem instead of the protest song.
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