{"id":6477,"date":"2017-10-17T11:37:25","date_gmt":"2017-10-17T18:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=6477"},"modified":"2017-10-17T11:45:41","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T18:45:41","slug":"hong-kong-fans-protest-national-anthem-austin-ramzyoct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2017\/10\/17\/hong-kong-fans-protest-national-anthem-austin-ramzyoct\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;In Hong Kong, It\u2019s the Fans Who Protest During the National Anthem&#8221; by Austin Ramzyoct"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>OCT. 11, 2017 (NYTimes.com)<\/p>\n<p><code><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q90LTPAxcco\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/code><br \/>\n<em>Fans boo China\u2019s national anthem during Hong Kong-Laos soccer match.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><span style=\"font-size: 12px;\"><em><a class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC4SUWizzKc1tptprBkWjX2Q\">South China Morning Post <\/a><\/em><\/span><em><span class=\"date style-scope ytd-video-secondary-info-renderer\">Published on Oct 5, 2017<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"footer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"story-body-supplemental\">\n<div class=\"story-body story-body-1\">\n<p id=\"story-continues-1\" class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"104\" data-total-count=\"104\">HONG KONG \u2014 In the United States,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/09\/24\/us\/trump-nfl-protest-kaepernick.html\">athletes\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/09\/24\/us\/trump-nfl-protest-kaepernick.html\">protest<\/a>\u00a0during the national anthem. In Hong Kong, fans do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"212\" data-total-count=\"316\">Sports fans in Hong Kong have been turning their backs, booing and even raising their middle fingers as China\u2019s national anthem is played, a protest of Beijing\u2019s growing influence in this semiautonomous city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"208\" data-total-count=\"524\">While Hong Kong\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1997\/07\/01\/world\/china-resumes-control-of-hong-kong-concluding-156-years-of-british-rule.html\">returned to Chinese control in 1997<\/a>, it still fields its own teams in international sports competitions. One of its most popular teams, men\u2019s soccer, has become a focal point for discontent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"208\" data-total-count=\"732\">On Tuesday, fans booed before the start of an Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia, which Hong Kong won, 2-0. Last week, they protested the anthem before a friendly match against Laos that Hong Kong won, 4-0.<\/p>\n<p id=\"story-continues-2\" class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"237\" data-total-count=\"969\">The boos come from hard-core fans who worry that Hong Kong\u2019s autonomy and unique identity are being undermined by Beijing. A few even hold up signs advocating independence, an idea that mainland and local officials denounce as illegal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"story-body-supplemental\">\n<div class=\"story-body story-body-2\">\n<p id=\"story-continues-4\" class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"321\" data-total-count=\"1290\">Now the authorities are planning tougher measures. Last month, China\u2019s legislature approved a law prohibiting disrespect of the anthem, barring the song\u2019s use in commercials or parodies, and outlining punishments for people who do not \u201cstand with respect\u201d and \u201cmaintain a dignified bearing\u201d when it is played.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"182\" data-total-count=\"1472\">Weekslong street protests in Hong Kong known as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2014\/09\/29\/world\/asia\/clashes-in-hong-kong.html\">the Umbrella<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2014\/09\/29\/world\/asia\/clashes-in-hong-kong.html\">\u00a0Movement<\/a>ended three years ago without the government ceding any ground on expanding residents\u2019 say in local elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"267\" data-total-count=\"1739\">But that spirit of protest has been revived in the stadium jeers, which appear to have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com\/2015\/06\/12\/hong-kong-soccer-fans-boo-chinese-national-anthem\/\">started two years ago<\/a>. Hong Kong played China in World Cup qualifiers twice in 2015, and those matches took on an added political dimension coming a year after the street protests.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"media-100000005489688\" class=\"media photo embedded layout-large-horizontal media-100000005489688 ratio-tall\" role=\"group\" data-media-action=\"modal\" aria-label=\"media\"><span class=\"visually-hidden\">Photo<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"image\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media-viewer-candidate\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2017\/10\/12\/world\/12hongkong-1\/12hongkong-1-master675.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-mediaviewer-src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2017\/10\/12\/world\/12hongkong-1\/12hongkong-1-superJumbo.jpg\" data-mediaviewer-caption=\"Hong Kong soccer fans booed the Chinese national anthem and held banners calling for Hong Kong&amp;rsquo;s independence from China during a match against Malaysia on Tuesday.\" data-mediaviewer-credit=\"Kin Cheung\/Associated Press\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media-action-overlay\">\n<p><em><span class=\"caption-text\" style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Hong Kong soccer fans booed the Chinese national anthem and held banners calling for Hong Kong\u2019s independence from China during a match against Malaysia on Tuesday.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"credit\" style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span class=\"visually-hidden\">Credit<\/span>Kin Cheung\/Associated Press<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>With a population of seven million, Hong Kong is a minnow in the ocean of international soccer. But the city has a long history with the sport and, with the help of some foreign-born players, often punches above its weight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"178\" data-total-count=\"2140\">China has a huge population to draw from and its teams have been successful in several sports. But its men\u2019s soccer teams have routinely struggled in international competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"304\" data-total-count=\"2444\">In 1985, Hong Kong beat China, 2-1, in Beijing to eliminate the team from qualifying for the following year\u2019s World Cup,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1985\/05\/20\/world\/chinese-riot-after-soccer-defeat.html\">setting off a riot<\/a>. In the 2015 World Cup qualifiers, Hong Kong tied China twice. To add to the insult, the home fans booed the Chinese national anthem before the game in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"361\" data-total-count=\"2805\">The world governing body for soccer, FIFA, fined the Hong Kong Football Association for fans booing during one of the China matches and also during a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com\/2015\/10\/06\/hong-kong-fifa-china-anthem\/\">2015 World Cup qualifier against Qatar<\/a>. The city\u2019s football association has called on fans to behave, and stewards make vain attempts to encourage hard-core supporters to keep quiet during the national anthem.<\/p>\n<p id=\"story-continues-5\" class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"216\" data-total-count=\"3021\">The anthem, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?time_continue=6&amp;v=UctriMuXYS0\">March of the Volunteers<\/a>,\u201d was a poem set to music in 1935, and it became popular as a call for resistance against Japan. Its lyricist, Tian Han, died in prison during the Cultural Revolution in 1968.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"262\" data-total-count=\"3283\">The anthem law went into effect on Oct. 1. But Hong Kong, a former British colony, maintains a semiautonomous existence that allows it to keep its own economic and legal systems. So Hong Kong will need to enact its own version of the law, which it has yet to do.<span style=\"font-size: 12px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"37\" data-total-count=\"3320\">Thus far, Hong Kong fans are unbowed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"215\" data-total-count=\"3535\">\u201cWe do it spontaneously because we don\u2019t think we are part of the P.R.C.,\u201d said Sanho Chung, 24, who was at Tuesday\u2019s game, using an abbreviation for the People\u2019s Republic of China. \u201cWe are different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"116\" data-total-count=\"3651\">Rights activists and pro-democracy politicians are concerned that the law could be used to suppress free expression.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"120\" data-total-count=\"3771\">\u201cI think it will be quite problematic to apply it,\u201d said Dennis Kwok, a member of Hong Kong\u2019s Legislative Council.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"media-100000005489689\" class=\"media photo embedded layout-large-horizontal media-100000005489689 ratio-tall\" role=\"group\" data-media-action=\"modal\" aria-label=\"media\"><span class=\"visually-hidden\">Photo<\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"image\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media-viewer-candidate\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2017\/10\/12\/world\/12hongkong-2\/12hongkong-2-master675.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-mediaviewer-src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2017\/10\/12\/world\/12hongkong-2\/12hongkong-2-superJumbo.jpg\" data-mediaviewer-caption=\"Jorge Tarres Paramo of Hong Kong scoring a goal against Malaysia on Tuesday. FIFA fined the Hong Kong Football Association for fans booing during a match against China in 2015.\" data-mediaviewer-credit=\"Bobby Yip\/Reuters\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media-action-overlay\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Jorge Tarres Paramo of Hong Kong scoring a goal against Malaysia on Tuesday. FIFA fined the Hong Kong Football Association for fans booing during a match against China in 2015.<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"credit\"><span class=\"visually-hidden\">Credit<\/span>Bobby Yip\/Reuters<\/span><\/p>\n<p>He noted that the mainland law allows the police to place violators in administrative detention for 15 days. That method of incarceration, which bypasses the courts, does not exist in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"308\" data-total-count=\"4273\">And the idea of showing reverence will be hard to define, he said. \u201cWhat does it mean to be respectful of the national anthem?\u201d Mr. Kwok said. \u201cThat concept of law is simply unheard-of here, to have to stand in silence. I think we need to be very careful defining what is respectful and what is not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"115\" data-total-count=\"4388\">Hong Kong officials say the national anthem law is a routine matter that should not prompt concern among residents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"370\" data-total-count=\"4758\">\u201cI just want to reiterate that, rightly so, we are living in a more politicized environment, but we need not adopt this very politicized stance in considering and dealing with any matter,\u201d Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, said in August. \u201cThis particular matter of national anthem legislation does not carry any particular scope for politicization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"story-continues-6\" class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"187\" data-total-count=\"4945\">In recent months, the authorities have taken several steps to punish people for protesting or for calling for Hong Kong\u2019s independence. Now, even symbolic protests are being suppressed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"180\" data-total-count=\"5125\">Last month,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/news.rthk.hk\/rthk\/en\/component\/k2\/1356571-20170929.htm\">a lawmaker was fined<\/a>\u00a05,000 Hong Kong dollars, about $640, for turning upside down several small Hong Kong and Chinese flags on desks in the Legislative Council chamber.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"360\" data-total-count=\"5485\">And the appearance of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/2110240\/showdown-chinese-university-campus-over-posters-and-politics\">posters calling for Hong Kong independence<\/a>\u00a0on a wall run by the student union at the Chinese University of Hong Kong set off debate between local and mainland students. School administrators and Hong Kong officials called the signs illegal, but legal scholars said it was questionable whether colonial-era sedition laws could be enforced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"348\" data-total-count=\"5833\">\u201cThe introduction of a national anthem law is coming at a time when people who oppose symbols of the Chinese government and symbols of the Chinese Communist Party have reason to fear they could end up behind bars,\u201d said Maya Wang, senior China researcher for Human Rights Watch. \u201cThis could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"183\" data-total-count=\"6016\">On Tuesday at the match against Malaysia, Mr. Chung, clad in a red home jersey, stood with fellow fans during halftime. He said the national anthem law would not stop him from booing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"story-body-text story-content\" data-para-count=\"163\" data-total-count=\"6179\" data-node-uid=\"1\">\u201cIt does dampen our freedom of speech, forcing us to respect something,\u201d he said. \u201cI worry, but I will still practice my rights. I think this is my right.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OCT. 11, 2017 (NYTimes.com) Fans boo China\u2019s national anthem during Hong Kong-Laos soccer match.\u00a0\u00a0South China Morning Post Published on Oct 5, 2017 HONG KONG \u2014 In the United States,\u00a0athletes\u00a0protest\u00a0during the national anthem. In Hong Kong, fans do. Sports fans in Hong Kong have been turning their backs, booing and even&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2017\/10\/17\/hong-kong-fans-protest-national-anthem-austin-ramzyoct\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6477"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6477"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6484,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6477\/revisions\/6484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}