Key factors
- The Hong Kong authorities needs an investigation after a protest track changed its nationwide anthem at a rugby recreation.
- Hong Kong Rugby Union has expressed its remorse over the “incorrect music”.
- “It was a case of human error”, the HKRU mentioned, including that an apology was issued on the recreation.
The Hong Kong authorities says it “strongly deplores and opposes” the taking part in of a protest track as an alternative of the Chinese language nationwide anthem at a Asian Rugby Sevens recreation in South Korea, demanding a full investigation into the way it occurred.
Earlier than the cup closing match between Hong Kong and South Korea in Incheon on Sunday, on-line footage reveals the sounds of Glory to Hong Kong filling the stadium as an alternative of the Chinese language nationwide anthem, March of the Volunteers.
The track rose to reputation in the course of the 2019-2020 protests in Hong Kong, when indignant civilians took to the streets in response to a invoice that, if handed, would enable fugitives to be extradited to mainland China.
The track contains the phrase “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our occasions” – popularised by pro-democracy activists – which has since been outlawed by the Hong Kong authorities.
Riot police responded to the protests with tear gasoline, usually clashing with activists.
With out naming the track, that it was “carefully related to violent protests and the ‘independence’ motion of 2019”.
“The Nationwide Anthem is an emblem of our nation. The organiser of the match has an obligation to make sure that the Nationwide Anthem receives the respect it warranted,” the spokesperson mentioned.
They added the federal government had already written to the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) on Sunday night, demanding that it “cope with this matter critically” by launching a full investigation, submitting an in depth report and conveying the federal government’s robust objection to collection organiser Asia Rugby.
The Sports activities Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China , saying it was “extremely involved” and “shocked” by the error, and demanding HKRU conduct an investigation to make sure comparable occasions do not occur once more.
‘A case of human error’
over the incident, including that Asia Rugby had additionally conveyed its “honest apologies and guaranteed us it is not going to occur once more”.
When explaining the error, HKRU mentioned the organisers “initially performed incorrect music for Hong Kong”, which they mentioned was all the way down to “human error”.
“This was dropped at their consideration and an apology was introduced after the sport,” it mentioned.
“The HKRU expressed its excessive dissatisfaction at this prevalence and has acquired a full rationalization of the circumstances that led to this. While we settle for this was a case of human error it was nonetheless not acceptable.”
When Hong Kong gained the ultimate on Sunday, March of the Volunteers was performed in the course of the prize presentation ceremony.
Through the 2019-2020 protests, it’s estimated thousands and thousands of individuals attended demonstrations throughout Hong Kong, with police arresting 10,200 folks and two folks shedding their lives. Town has a inhabitants of greater than seven million.
Whereas the so-called extradition invoice was finally withdrawn, the protests continued and, finally, China enacted the controversial nationwide safety regulation on 30 June 2020.
Following the brand new regulation coming in, the Hong Kong authorities mentioned it “strongly condemns any acts which problem the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the Individuals’s Republic of China”.
Since then, a whole bunch have been arrested underneath the specter of secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with overseas forces in opposition to Hong Kong and China.
The Hong Kong authorities has requested the HKRU guarantee an analogous incident does not occur once more when the Hong Kong rugby crew play within the third leg of the Asian Rugby Seven Sequence to be held in Dubai on the finish of the month.
Asia Rugby has been contacted for remark.