Court ruling on protest song ban to come next week
The High Court said it will hand down a decision in a week's time whether to ban people from playing the 2019 protest song Glory to Hong Kong. The Department of Justice (DoJ) is seeking a court order to prohibit people with a seditious intention or those trying to incite secession from "broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing in any way" the song. In a hearing on Friday, senior counsel Benjamin Yu, representing the DoJ, said the song is capable of stirring up people's emotions, and playing it could incite violence and insult the national anthem. Justice Anthony Chan questioned whether those who violate the injunction order may also violate the national security law. Yu said the law doesn’t allow a person to be punished twice, and stressed that the principle of fair trial will not be affected. The court was also told that the injunction will not affect lawful journalistic activities.  The Hong Kong Journalists Association earlier said the DoJ has approved its proposal to include an express exemption for journalistic activity if the injunction is passed. Under the exemption, journalists will be allowed to gather news, make observations and publish articles relating to the song. Chan presided over the hearing, replacing the original judge Wilson Chan who earlier received a “serious reprimand” for judicial copying. The court will announce its decision on whether to grant an injunction at 4pm on July 28.