Localist groups are working together to live broadcast an Olympics badminton match between Hong Kong and China. It is not yet known what form of live broadcast, streaming or otherwise, will be used for the mixed doubles preliminaries match.
ProgressUST of the University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Indigenous, and the Channel i Hong Kong programme “Self-determination” hosted by Simon Sin will hold the live broadcast on Mong Kok’s Soy Street.
In an announcement, Hong Kong Indigenous said: “There are no live broadcasts of the Hong Kong team’s competitions. Although everybody is happy when the country next door loses gold medals, only the Hong Kong team can represent Hongkongers.”
Sin, the event’s master of ceremonies and a Hong Kong independence supporter, said: “I am thinking if at that time the viewers shout ‘Down with China,’ ‘Support the Hong Kong team,’ ‘I am a Hongkonger,’ ‘HK IS NOT CHINA,’ the scene would be very dramatic… ”
“We need to let the international community, Chinese people, and everybody know that Hong Kong does not have a reason to support the Chinese team,” he said.
Chris Ng, a lawyer from the Progressive Lawyers Group, said if the groups were to stream the match, its legality would depend on the source and its license. However, he also said that the groups will need a license to broadcast in public places, although recent public broadcasting events like the 100Most awards were allowed to continue even though the organisers had not applied for one. It is not known if the localists’ case would be treated similarly.
While localist groups support democracy, they are better known for their anti-communist stance, emphasis on Hong Kong’s separate identity, and close association with movements promoting the expansion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and independence.
The Group A match will be between Chau Hoi-wah and Reginald Lee Chun-hei from Hong Kong, and Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei from China. The Hong Kong pair will also face Germany and Indonesia.
