The Hong Kong authorities suffered a shocking setback on Friday when a decide denied their request to ban a well-liked pro-democracy music from the web.

The authorities was searching for an injunction that would have given it the ability to pressure Google and different tech firms to limit entry to the music.

Since coming beneath the tighter grip of Beijing a number of years in the past, Hong Kong has jailed political opponents, quashed avenue protest and shuttered pro-democracy newspapers. But the web, not like in mainland China, has remained largely free of presidency management.

At challenge in Friday’s ruling was “Glory to Hong Kong,” which was the unofficial anthem of 2019 democracy protests and a seamless flashpoint for the authorities, who think about it an insult to China’s nationwide anthem. It has been banned from Hong Kong faculties and has drawn indignant official rebukes when performed, apparently by mistake, at sports activities competitions.

The Hong Kong authorities was searching for a courtroom injunction towards the publication or distribution of “Glory to Hong Kong” with “seditious intention” on the web or in different media.

But Judge Anthony Chan denied the request, ruling that the federal government’s request was too broad and successfully focused everybody in Hong Kong. He wrote that the injunction might have had a “chilling effect” on free speech in Hong Kong.

“Freedom of expression is not absolute in nature but is nonetheless a highly important right that cannot be lawfully restricted without the requirements of legal certainty and proportionality being met,” he added.

Judge Chan additionally mentioned that it might be improper to grant the injunction as a result of current felony legal guidelines already give the authorities the ability to prosecute individuals for spreading the music, and that this ban would have been tough to implement and pointless. Numerous individuals in Hong Kong have been arrested or charged for enjoying the music in public.