HK court bans popular protest song Glory To Hong Kong

It can also no longer be disseminated or reproduced in any way on online platforms

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Hong Kong banned a protest song popular during massive pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019 on May 8 after a court judged Glory To Hong Kong was used as a "weapon" to incite violent protests.

The song grew popular during the protests, and was secretly recorded by an anonymous orchestra.

Its defiant lyrics incorporate the key protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times".

Glory To Hong Kong is the first song to be banned in the former British colony since it was handed over to China in 1997.

The Hong Kong government's first attempt to get an official injunction was refused by the High Court in 2023 in a surprise ruling, which said a ban could have a "chilling effect" on innocent third parties.

Angering the city's government, the song has in recent years been played at several international sporting events, with event organisers mistaking it for the Chinese territory's anthem.

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous territory with no anthem of its own, and uses China's March of the Volunteers.

The May 8 ban comes after a campaign by the city's authorities against the song, which has seen them demand that it be removed from internet search results and content-sharing platforms - a request that has been largely rebuffed.