(MENAFN- Asia Times) The voices of Hong Kong citizens who support the anti-government protests became one after they responded to a call for solidarity and sang what they call a new 'anthem' for the former British colony.
The song was sung in various districts on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, some soccer fans booed China's national anthem before a World Cup qualifier in Hong Kong Stadium.
People went online and called for a peaceful rally to sing a new protest song called 'Glory to Hong Kong' on Tuesday night, and many responded to the call by going to shopping malls across the city.
Crowds gathered in Tseung Kawn O, Wong Tin Sin, Kwai Fong, Tai Po, Ma On Shan, Tuen Mun and Mong Kok and Kwun Tong, as well as at an exit of the Prince Edward MTR Station where riot police last week stormed into train carriages to arrest protesters and left a dozen commuters injured.
People turned the light button of their phones on, stayed together, chanted slogans and sang the song together. The peaceful rally was one of the few nights Hong Kong people have had over the past few weeks without clashes between police and protesters escalating and turning violent.
The song 'Glory to Hong Kong' was composed by a local musician who took two months to write it, the Stand News reported. It was uploaded to LIHKG, a local-Reddit-like forum, for more input and improvements to the music and lyrics.
On August 31, a music video was uploaded to YouTube and had already generated more than one million views. It has Cantonese and English versions and the lyrics have also been translated to Japanese and more languages are expected.
The song is described as a Hong Kong song, with some even calling it a 'national anthem.' Listeners said the song reflected what Hong Kong people have been going through since June, when the anti-extradition bill saga started.
Pro-democracy supporters sang Glory To Hong Hong in shopping malls across the city.
Meanwhile, soccer fans, some dressed in red jerseys to support the local team and also a large number wearing black – the signature color of the anti-extradition movement – booed the playing of China's national anthem during a World Cup qualifying match between Hong Kong and Iran on Tuesday night.
Some turned their backs to the football pitch, while others made rude gestures.Some carried banners saying 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time' and "All Five Demands, Not One Less" and chanted slogans.
During half-time, some sang 'Glory to Hong Kong.'
The fans' actions could result in further punishment from Fifa as the sport's governing body fined the Hong Kong Football Association for a similar incident in the past.
According to a survey by the University of Hong Kong,which had interviewed 1,015 people in June, Hong Kong people identifying as 'Chinese' was at a record low since 1997, while those who identified as 'Hongkongers' was at it highest.
The survey also revealed that 27% of the respondents were proud of becoming a citizen of China after the handover, while 71% said they did not have such a feeling.
The interviews were done after two massive marches involving a total of three million people on the streets to protest against the now-withdrawn extradition bill.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's popularity rating stood at 25.4 marks, a slight rise 0.7 marks, while her net popularity recorded negative 55 percentage points,a poll result showed .
Her marks did not change much from the previous survey conducted by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Program. The survey interviewed 1,046 residents between September 2 and 4.
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