Unforgettable Memories to Hongkongers: British Music in Hong Kong

In the United Kingdom, it is the mourning period after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest living monarch in the 20th century. Besides the United Kingdom, other British Commonwealth countries also have their mourning periods.

Although Hong Kong is not in the British Commonwealth after the handover to China in 1997, many Hongkongers are very upset, lined up outside the British Consulate for nearly 5 hours under hot and humid weather and placed banquets of flowers outside the British Consulate.

Hong Kong has been a British colony for more than 150 years, so the British culture, including the music has influenced Hong Kong for so many years. In the following I introduce the three popular and unforgettable British music in Hong Kong.

British Anthem — God Save the Queen

The British Anthem composed during the Baroque period. Handel and Beethoven used it for his music works(See Reference 1 at the bottom). So the anthem became popular in Europe.Its name was previously God Save the Queen.Now, with King Charles III it is God Save the King.

Although the British anthem was not taught in Hong Kong schools, we keep silent when we hear the song. The song is a hymn which is soft and harmonious music, making us happy and relaxed.

In the past, when the TV channel closed during midnight, the TV station broadcasted the video before the signal test. Now it is removed after the handover, but this is a collective memory to many Hongkongers. So you can watch the video recorded by the Youtubers:

The British Anthem was also used when a Hong Kong windsurfing athlete Lai-shan Lee won the first gold medal for Hong Kong during the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. The music started at the rise of the British Hong Kong flag on the flagpole. Everyone was moved by the scene as it was a historical moment to Hong Kong and the song sounded beautiful:

Greensleeves

It was an English folk song, bringing childhood memories to many British.(See Reference 2 at the bottom). It is broadcasted in Radio Television Hong Kong for the English Listening Test in the Hong Kong public examinations, so many people have heard this music. It was selected by a British official in the Hong Kong Examinations Authority for testing the signal transmission before the listening test.

The music is still used in the English listening test in the public exams in Hong Kong now. It becomes a collective memory of many Hongkongers because most people have to pass this test to get a place in the university. The music is touching and peaceful before the listening test. Some exam candidates can imagine the beautiful scenery in the United Kingdom.

The following is the version used during the public exam:

Auld Lang Syne

It is a Scottish song, originally sung in Scottish(See Reference 3 at the bottom). Now it’s an English song. The title of the song translated in Chinese is ‘May our friendship lasts forever(友誼萬歲)’.

It is inlcuded in the repertoires in the music lessons in Hong Kong. It symbolizes the farewell to friends which makes us sorrowful. So it was selected and played by the British Army during the handover ceremony of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China. The Hongkongers were very sorrowful and the sky was crying:

The Queen performed her Royal Duties in Hong Kong. She visited many places like the housing estates(similar to the council houses in the United Kingdom) in Hong Kong. These scenes are very impressive to Hongkongers.

Although colonialism is a shame to the United Kingdom, the British rule in Hong Kong as a colony brought freedom which allowed the Hongkongers to develop our own culture, for example cuisines, which are impressive to many foreigners. That’s why so many foreigners are willing to visit Hong Kong again. This brings prosperity to Hong Kong.

There’s no doubt that many Hongkongers are grateful to her, so they lined up outside the British Consulate and gave flowers to pay tribute to the Queen

I cried when I watched the BBC news announcement telling us of the death of the Queen because it was too sudden. But life goes on and as a British Hongkonger, I continue my loyalty to the United Kingdom. God Save the King!

References:

1. Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/God-Save-the-Queen-British-national-anthem
2. Classic FM: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/greensleeves-did-henry-viii-write-song/
3. Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Auld-Lang-Syne

Previously posted in Medium