Image copyright GETTY IMAGESHong Kong’s protest movement made its presence felt in a sports stadium and shopping malls on Tuesday.
Fans attending a football match drowned out the pre-game Chinese national anthem with loud booing.
Protesters have also staged flash events in shopping malls, singing Glory to Hong Kong which has become an unofficial anthem of the movement.
The protesters won a major concession last week when the extradition bill which sparked the unrest was scrapped.
But this has failed to end the unrest as protesters continue to demand full democracy and an investigation into allegations of police abuses.
- Hong Kong protests explained in 100 and 500 words
- The background you need on the Hong Kong protests
- Why Hong Kong protesters are singing Hallelujah
On Tuesday night, thousands of protesters gathered in shopping malls across Hong Kong chanting slogans and singing Glory to Hong Kong.
Image copyright GETTY IMAGESIn the popular shopping district of Mongkok, a sea of protesters dressed in black were seen congregating across the different levels of one mall.
Jason Y. Ng✔@jasonyng
Hundreds of shoppers spontaneously assembled at a mall atrium and broke into song. They sang “Glory to Hong Kong,” an ersatz national anthem (coz we aren’t a national and haven’t the right to an anthem). People ask what Communist China is most afraid of—the answer is right here.
End of Twitter post by @jasonyng
Shopping malls have been the scene of clashes in recent weeks, with one incident in July seeing riot police fight battles with protesters inside a mall in the district of Sha Tin.
But the recent events have played out peacefully.
Felix G@felixlihkWithout true democracy, HKer shall never surrender! This video shows citizens are gathered in a mall and cheering each other up after singing the song of #HKprotest “Glory to Hong Kong”.
End of Twitter post by @felixlihk
antiELAB@anti_elab2200 #KwaiFong Metroplaza “Glory to Hong Kong” singing
End of Twitter post by @anti_elab
The lyrics include lines such as “Do you feel the rage in our cries? Rise up and speak up” and “persevere, for we are as one”.
Alex Hofford✔@alexhofford
Hong Kongers have created a national anthem for themselves. It’s called ‘Glory to Hong Kong’.#HongKongProtests#antiELABhk #antiELAB
End of Twitter post by @alexhofford
It was also heard at the Hong Kong v Iran football match on Tuesday at Hong Kong Stadium.
Jeanie Leung@JeanieLeungSense of belonging cannot be forced. Happening in the same stadium, this is the anthem HKers would sing — the one song stands for our revolution, our fight for freedom. #StandwithHK https://twitter.com/StephenMcDonell/status/1171476376991330306 …
Stephen McDonell✔@StephenMcDonell
#Hongkong soccer fans booing the #Chinese national anthem tonight. Footy fans also have their backs to the field. Carrie Lam’s administration had been planning to introduce tough new penalties for booing the anthem but this can’t be easy to bring in in the city’s current climate. https://twitter.com/SCMPHongKong/status/1171411414801534977 …
End of Twitter post by @JeanieLeung
The jeering, which could be heard from outside the stadium, was intended as a clear “message” to Beijing that they do not want to be part of China in the future, says the BBC’s Nick Beake who was at the game.
Nick Beake✔@Beaking_News
VIDEO: The moment #HongKong football fans began booing #China national anthem before the start of their @FIFAWorldCup qualifier against #Iran. #CarrieLam ‘s govt has delayed (another) controversial new law that could give 3 year prison term for disrespecting anthem. @BBCWorld
End of Twitter post by @Beaking_News
It’s not the first time people in Hong Kong have been heard booing the Chinese anthem – though it is not clear how long they might be able to do this.
In 2017 China passed a law making it illegal to disrespect the anthem, but the law has yet to be passed in Hong Kong.
‘Too little, too late’
Hong Kong, formerly a British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Under the “one country, two systems” rule, the city is granted a high level of autonomy, an independent judiciary and rights such as freedom of speech.
But those freedoms – the Basic Law – expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong’s status will then be.
There has been growing anti-mainland sentiment in recent years, and anger at what many feel is increasing mainland interference in Hong Kong affairs.
This reached a tipping point when the Hong Kong parliament proposed a new law that would have enabled suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to China.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched on the streets in protest of the law, demanding that it be abandoned. The government initially suspended in June, and then finally dropped earlier this week – almost three months after protests first begun.
But protesters have said this is “too little, too late”, and their demands have evolved into calls for a much wider set of reforms, including a call for universal suffrage.
Source: The BBC
CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon 