China's Foreign Ministry defends Hong Kong's ban on protest song 'Glory to Hong Kong'

(8 May 2024)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing - 8 May 2024
1. Wide of news conference
2. Wide of reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“This is not a diplomatic question. I would like to stress that stopping anyone from using or spreading the song in an attempt to incite division and insult the national anthem is a legitimate and necessary measure by the SAR (Special Administrative Region) to assume its constitutional responsibility of maintaining national security and anthem dignity.”
4. Reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, and the two sides will follow the consensus of the two heads of state to continuously enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation, pass on friendship, jointly advocate for the advancement of equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, practice genuine multilateralism and lead the development of global governance in a more just and reasonable direction.”
6. Reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“The Philippines, bent on denying the objective facts, misled the international community, undermined its own credibility and jeopardized peace and stability in the South China Sea. China urges the Philippine side to honor its commitment, to immediately stop the infringement and provocation at sea and return to the right track of resolving differences with China through dialogue and consultation.”
8. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday defended the Hong Kong government’s ban on a popular protest song as “legitimate and necessary.”

Earlier in the day, an appeals court granted the Hong Kong government's request to ban the song, overturning an earlier ruling and deepening concerns over the erosion of freedoms in the once-freewheeling global financial hub.

“Glory to Hong Kong” was often sung by demonstrators during the huge anti-government protests in 2019.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in Beijing that banning the song was “not a diplomatic question.”

The song was once mistakenly played as the city’s anthem at international sporting events, instead of China’s “March of the Volunteers," in mix-ups that upset city officials.

At the briefing, Lin again congratulated Russia's President Vladimir Putin who began his fifth term in office on Tuesday.

Putin earlier said he planned to visit China in May.

Separately, Lin dismissed a report that China would soon release audio of a call with a Philippine military official that Beijing claims is evidence of a secret deal between the two sides over the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines’ denial of the deal only “misled the international community, undermined its own credibility and jeopardized peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Lin said, without detailing the conversation of the alleged call.

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