But a national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong last year actually criminalized the public performance of songs during the anti-government protests that shook the semi-autonomous city in 2019.
In 2019, Chinese music streaming sites removed unofficial protest national anthems, including the Les Misérables song “Did You Hear People Sing?” and some songs by Chinese rock musician Li Zhi that quoted the song. Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
The new regulations came into effect on October 1, requiring karaoke content providers to review their catalogs, adding that the ministry may establish a central song expert review team.
Xinhua News Agency quoted an unnamed department source as saying, “As there are nearly 50,000 karaoke and entertainment venues across the country, law enforcement and supervision are particularly difficult.”
