In a protest that would potentially lead to jail terms if a controversial law is passed, pro-democracy activists last night dressed up in Godzilla masks and walked through a train carriage singing a parody of the Chinese national anthem.
Three members of Demosistō — a political party founded by Joshua Wong — donned suits, ties, and Godzilla masks at Tsuen Wan MTR station, and then walked through the train singing the Chinese national anthem “March of the Volunteers”.
However, in their version, they switched out several lyrics and sung lines including “human rights and rule of law are no more,” and “freedom of expression is being killed.”
The group were protesting a proposed national anthem law that critics have warned could have a chilling effect on free speech in the city. Hence the Godzilla masks.
The controversial national anthem bill will be sent to the Legislative Council in July. A draft outline for the law by the government says that anyone who publicly and wilfully alters the lyrics or the score of the national anthem, performs or sings the national anthem in a distorted or derogatory manner, or insults the national anthem in any other manner will face up to three years in jail and a maximum fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,370).
This means that if the national anthem bill is passed, stunts like these could see these guys end up in jail.
Last week, the Hong Kong Journalists’ Association warned that the proposed law in its current form will “harm the public’s right to free expression” and that Hong Kong’s version of the bill is even stricter than its mainland counterpart.
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