Hong Kong’s efforts to enhance the accuracy of Google search outcomes for its nationwide anthem have yielded some affirmative outcomes, in accordance with an official from the Particular Administrative Area of China.
“It needs to be mentioned that colleagues from the Workplace of the Authorities Chief Data Officer (OGCIO) have completed a whole lot of work over the previous interval, and thru this net SEO work, we consider that some web sites that may mirror the proper data have improved considerably of their rankings,” declared Professor Solar Dong, secretary for Innovation, Expertise and Business, on a Sunday radio program.
The tune that’s generally mistaken for the nationwide anthem is a Cantonese language protest song titled “Glory to Hong Kong” – launched in August 2019 throughout protests towards a regulation that allowed extradition of Hong Kong residents to China.
The tune, which champions independence from China, is usually sung at demonstrations alongside the Les Misérables revolution-themed traditional “Do You Hear the Folks Sing?”
Common it might be, however it isn’t Hong Kong’s nationwide anthem. China’s “One nation, two programs” scheme means Hong Kong has its personal type of authorities however is a part of the Center Kingdom. Whereas the territory has its personal flag, it would not get its personal tune.
Based on Solar, the federal government has been working with Google to right the matter since November 2022.
Google has denied requests to expunge information about “Glory to Hong Kong” and rank China’s nationwide anthem as the highest response to queries for Hong Kong’s nationwide ditty, on grounds that its search outcomes are based mostly on absolutely automated algorithms. Google maintains it solely removes content material thought of unlawful.
On Monday, Solar mentioned that by persevering with to place misinformation on-line, Google is appearing opposite to its personal coverage.
“Our view is that Google, as an internationally famend net search supplier, ought to fulfil its company accountability to make sure that it offers its customers with the suitable net data,” mentioned Solar, who added that he hopes Google can meet the SAR authorities “midway.”
The feedback concerning the nationwide anthem had been supplied in Chinese language on the territory’s authorities web site. Nevertheless, commentary from the radio program on Hong Kong’s intent to change into an information hub was provided individually in English.
Solar mentioned the federal government had “completed a whole lot of work” to draw knowledge from each Mainland China and abroad, whereas enhancing infrastructure, and was contemplating the event of an AI supercomputing heart.
“Final week, we’ve got signed an settlement with the MOST – the Ministry of Science and Expertise. Particularly, we talked about the way to deepen the R&D co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong,” mentioned Solar. Additionally on the agenda was sharing IT assets for science and expertise improvement, expertise switch, manpower trade.
Solar mentioned the federal government wished to strengthen each the “internationalization” of Hong Kong and coordination between prime degree Hong Kong and Mainland authorities. ®
