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About the National Anthem of China

(Source: Education Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government)

“March of the Volunteers” is the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. It was originally the theme song of Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm (1935), a movie about fighting against Japan Aggression and saving the country. The song was written by the noted poet Tian Han with music by the famous composer Nie Er. The original story of Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm was created by Tian. It depicts the heroic stories of young people marching to the front line to defend their country against Japanese occupation in the early 1930s.

“March of the Volunteers” circulated extensively throughout the country after the movie Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm premiered in May 1935. On 27 September 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference decided: Before the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China was formally formulated, “The March of Volunteers” composed by Tian Han and Nie Er was adopted as the provisional national anthem. On 1 October 1949, the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China was established. At Tiananmen Square in Beijing, with the rise of the “Five-star Red Flag”, “March of the Volunteers” resonated for the first time at Tiananmen Square.

On 14 March 2004, the Tenth National People’s Congress passed the “Constitution (Amendment)” and added a paragraph to Article 136 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, stipulating that “March of the Volunteers” shall be the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China.

About Hong Kong’s National Anthem Ordinance

The Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People’s Congress adopted the Law of the People’s Republic of China on National Anthem (National Anthem Law) on 1 September 2017, and added the National Anthem Law to Annex III to the Basic Law on 4 November in the same year. Having regarded to the common law system practised in Hong Kong, as well as the actual circumstances in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong SAR Government decided to implement the National Anthem Law in the Hong Kong SAR by local legislation. The National Anthem Ordinance of Hong Kong came into effect on 12 June 2020 to provide for the playing and singing of the national anthem; and for the protection and promotion of the national anthem in Hong Kong.

The National Anthem Ordinance of Hong Kong requires that the national anthem must be played and sung in a way that is in keeping with its dignity. While the national anthem is being played and sung, the persons who take part in or attend the occasion should stand solemnly and deport themselves with dignity, and should not behave in a way disrespectful to the national anthem.

References:

1. Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government – About the National Flag, Emblem and Anthem
   (https://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/national_anthem.htm)
2. Protocol Division, Hong Kong SAR Government – About the National Flag, Emblem and Anthem of China and the Regional Flag and Emblem of Hong Kong
   (https://www.protocol.gov.hk/en/flags-emblems-anthem.html)
3. Education Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government – Getting to Know the National Flag, the National Emblem, the National Anthem, the Regional Flag and the Regional Emblem
   (https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/4-key-tasks/moral-civic/newwebsite/flagraising.html)
4. National Anthem Ordinance of Hong Kong
   (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/A405)