Hong Kong police to investigate rugby anthem blunder

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the city's Police Force will investigate whether the anthem playing blunder at an overseas rugby tournament has violated the National Anthem Ordinance and other Hong Kong laws, noting the song wrongly played at the event has clear political motivation.

Before the men's final between the Team Hong Kong, China and Team South Korea in the second leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, the event organizer wrongly played a song closely associated with violent protests and the "independence "movement in 2019 instead of the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

According to Asia Rugby, the recording of the national anthem submitted by the Hong Kong team's coach was the correct one, and the mistake was caused by the "human error" of a junior staff member of the local organizer.

It apologized on Monday to the Hong Kong Rugby Union, the HKSAR government and the Chinese government for the incident.

Lee said that Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki has met with the consul general of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, to express the government's strong objection over the incident and demand for a comprehensive probe.

He underlined that the national anthem is the symbol of every country and the playing of national anthems at sports events must be treated solemnly.

In a statement issued earlier on Monday, the government said the organizer of the tournament has a duty to ensure that the national anthem receives the respect it deserves. As early as Sunday night, the government had requested the Hong Kong Rugby Union convey its objection to Asia Rugby, and also its demand of launching a full and in-depth investigation into the incident with a detailed report, the statement read.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung pledged that the government will conduct a detailed investigation into the incident and formulate a report. The government will discuss with related sports associations on how to handle similar situations in the future so that athletes can deal with it better, Yeung added.

The Hong Kong Rugby Union and Sports Federation& Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China expressed their strong disapproval of the incident, saying such a mistake is unacceptable.

Lawmakers Michael Luk Chung-hung and Maggie Chan Man-ki said that the incident constitutes an insult to all Chinese people.

Luk called for an in-depth probe into the event to investigate whether some local activists had colluded with foreign forces to spread secessionist messages.

Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, who represents the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication Functional Constituency in the Legislative Council, said he will write a letter to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong to express his strong concern about the incident.

Ronny Tong Ka-wah, a senior counsel and a current non-official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, said the incident was definitely not an honest mistake. Those involved may have committed incitement under the Crimes Ordinance, secession or collusion with foreign forces under the Hong Kong National Security Law, or conspiracy to violate the National Anthem Ordinance, he noted.