Since the anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong in 2019, the political atmosphere in Hong Kong has been tense. In this context, Hong kong anthem has received increasing attention. Hong kong anthem “March of the Volunteers” has been the hong kong anthem since its handover to China in 1997, but during the anti-extradition movement, some demonstrators in Hong Kong began to protest the national anthem, seeing the song as a challenge to Hong Kong’s autonomy. This article explores the history of Hong kong anthem and its significance in the current political climate.

 

History of Hong Kong National Anthem

Hong kong anthem “March of the Volunteers” was originally a song by the Chinese Kuomintang. “This song” was written by playwright Tian Han and composed by musician Nie Er. The lyrics are about Chinese nationalism and resistance to Japanese imperialism. After the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949, the song became the national anthem of the Chinese state.

With Hong Kong’s handover to China taking place, Hong Kong needs a national anthem. In 1997, the Hong Kong government chose “March of the Volunteers” as the hong kong anthem. While Hong Kong retained its autonomy under the handover, the choice of anthem shows that Hong Kong remains a region of China.

 

Hong Kong National Anthem In Current Political Climate

Since the anti-extradition movement in 2019, the political atmosphere in Hong Kong has become increasingly tense. Against this backdrop, Hong kong anthem has also become a focus of political debate. Some demonstrators saw the singing of the national anthem as a challenge to Hong Kong’s autonomy because the anthem is China’s national anthem and Hong Kong retained its autonomy under the handover. They believe that singing the national anthem is a violation of Hong Kong’s autonomy.

Others, however, believe that singing the national anthem is a sign of respect and patriotism for China. They believe that Hong Kong is a region of China, and singing the national anthem is a sign of respect and support for China.

In 2019, the Hong Kong government passed the National Anthem Ordinance. This law makes it an obligation to sing the national anthem and provides penalties for disrespectful singing of the national anthem. The passage of the law was controversial. Some see the law as a violation of free speech because it limits criticism of the national anthem. Others see the law as a sign of respect and patriotism for China.

 

Summarize

Hong kong anthem “March of the Volunteers” has been Hong kong anthem since 1997, when Hong Kong returned to China. However, during the anti-extradition movement, the national anthem has become a focal point of political debate. Some see the singing of the national anthem as a violation of Hong Kong’s autonomy, while others see it as a sign of respect and patriotism for China. Regardless, Hong kong anthem is an important talking point in the current political climate, reflecting the complex relationship between Hong Kong and China.

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