Hong Kong said it “strongly regrets and opposes” the playing of a song related to “violent protests” and the pro-independence movement in 2019 when the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers, should have been played. Authorities did not name the song, but online footage from Sunday’s match suggests Glory to Hong Kong, a song popularized during the 2019 protest movement, was played before the cup final between Hong Kong and of South Korea in Incheon. A government announcement called for an investigation into the incident. “[W]We have already written to the Hong Kong Rugby Union last night asking them to take this matter seriously, launch a full and thorough investigation and submit a detailed report and convey our strong objection to Asia Rugby, which is the organizer of the match. Series.” The song was written and posted online by a group of local activists during the 2019 protest movement as a statement against the passing of an extradition bill. Although the song is not illegal on paper, it is considered dangerous to play it in public after the introduction of the national security law in Hong Kong in June 2020. Despite winning the match 19-12, the Hong Kong Rugby Union has not celebrated the win on its social media accounts so far and live streaming videos of the game have not been available on Asia Rugby’s various platforms. Hong Kong authorities said Rugby Asia had apologized for the incident and explained that the mistake was “caused by human error by junior staff” to the local organizer. The Hong Kong Rugby Union told the Guardian on Monday: “The organizers initially played the wrong music for Hong Kong. This was brought to their attention and an apology was announced after the game.” A correction was made and the March of the Volunteers was “played correctly” afterwards, he said. The union said it expressed “extreme dissatisfaction” with local organizers and accepted it was a “human error”. He added that Asia Rugby had expressed its sincere apologies and promised that the mistake would not be repeated. The Guardian has contacted Asia Rugby for comment. The government said the correct recording of the Chinese national anthem was submitted by the Hong Kong team and that it will participate in the next match, in Dubai at the end of November. Hong Kong has a National Anthem Ordinance, commonly known as the Anthem Law, which came into force in June 2020. The law came into force after fans began booing the national anthem at international matches played in Hong Kong Cong. The law criminalizes insults to the Chinese national anthem, but local media reports say booing continued at a football match between Hong Kong and Myanmar in September 2022. Local police were seen filming the crowds during that match when the anthem, but no arrests have been made so far. Earlier this month, a man was sentenced to three months in prison on the first conviction under the Anthem Act. A colonial-era flag was flown inside a mall, where crowds watched a live broadcast of the 2022 Olympics, during which the anthem was played. Ronny Tong Ka-wah, senior counsel and government adviser to Hong Kong’s Executive Council, said there could be legal consequences arising from the wrong anthem if it was a deliberate act. “If this is the case, there is an intention to overthrow the Hong Kong government and glorify violent acts,” Tong said. Tong noted that the city’s national security law still applies to someone outside Hong Kong, but that the facts of the case will have to decide whether the law is invoked. Tong said he was not worried that the incident could damage Hong Kong’s international reputation.
