A hymn to share: the new modality of events in Hong Kong | Internationale



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It is hard to exaggerate the extent to which shopping centers are integrated into the daily lives of Hong Kong residents. They represent a fundamental sector for the economy of this autonomous territory; they are a regular recreation area, rendezvous meeting point and a must-see node in the labyrinth of viaducts that allow pedestrians to avoid traffic – and heavy downpours – in the city center. Since this week, they have also become, after dark, improvised auditoriums. Hundreds of black-clad protesters gather in their atriums to sing an electrifying march that turns into a hymn of protest: "Glory to Hong Kong".

This provocative song, which ended only at the end of August, is the result of a collective collaboration. The music is the work of a young man of twenty who calls Thomas and does not want to publish more information about him. The lyrics are the result of contributions from dozens of people via social networks. Martial beat and pbadionate stanzas, since their first version was put on the Internet two weeks ago, protesters have memorized it enthusiastically and it has spread like wildfire.

Count even, even with what may already be considered his own official video: a very neat production, seen more than a million times on YouTube since its publication on Wednesday, in which an orchestra of boys dressed in black, with Gas masks and helmets – the uniform of the protesters – interpret this melody of the martial rhythm. The images of the young musicians mingle with the photos of the mobilizations, in a call to the epic.

Last Tuesday, during the World Cup qualifying match between the Hong Kong and Iran national teams, their notes were sung cleanly by the participants. All the contrast with the treatment of the hymn of China, the official in this autonomous territory, drowned by a very loud hissing. Since then, in many shopping centers of the city, every night – or during the day, at noon – the march resounds, punctuated by people who use the light of their phone as a candle and who, between applause, repeat the slogans demonstrations – "Free Hong Kong, revolution of our time! Courage, hongkones!

The song already has an English version and Thomas has asked for other contributions to make it as similar as possible to the original Cantonese. "For so many tears that this earth has shed," begins the letter in this language, to continue: "For the anguish we suffer in this chaos, we keep our heads high, our voices are firm, the liberty Installs in Hong Kong. " The last stanza ends in English with: "Come, children of our homeland, the time of revolution has come, freedom belongs to this country, glory to Hong Kong."

Public singing has become a tradition during the three months of protests, and the choice of what is sung has evolved in parallel with the change in the nature of the mobilizations, initially peaceful and gradually more violent. In the first weeks, the Christian anthem was omnipresent Sing Hallelujah to the Lord (Hallelujah sings to the Lord), which is still heard from time to time today. Among the reasons for his triumph, let us quote his simplicity – it is enough of two or three listeners to learn it – and his calm tone, which emphasizes the initial pacific character of the mobilizations. It also provided an excuse for unauthorized mergers: religious congregations in the street did not need the prior consent of the police; civil calls, yes.

It is also common to hear the Do you hear people singing?, from the musical version of Wretched. Five years ago, this tune had already become the unofficial anthem of the Umbrella Movement, the student protest movement precursor of the current movement that paralyzed the center of Hong Kong for nearly three months in 2014 .

But none had touched too Glory in Hong Kong, to the point that there are already participants in the protests that begin to call it the "new anthem" of British excolonia. "Let's hope that someday will come when, at an international event, we will be able to sing it with our heads up," wishes the Ghost of Smoke user to communicate on one of the Internet forums favorites of the protesters.

A survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong last June, after the first two mbad demonstrations, revealed that only 27% of Hong Kong residents are proud to be Chinese citizens, while 71% say they do not share this. opinion. feeling

BOY WUTLoria in Hong Kong will be heard again safely during the events planned this weekend, which this Friday, during the holidays in mid-autumn, include human chains with lanterns and sitting in subway stations, the tourist peak Victoria or Lion Rock, the highest mountain of the autonomous territory. In addition, in shopping centers.

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