Hong Kong netizens would normally be familiar to one another by their aliases, sharing their thoughts through digital memes, but on Wednesday night, they stopped guessing through social media and instead assemble for a rally outside Hong Kong's Legislative Council to express dissatisfaction over the new bill that may limit their freedom of expression. 

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They made banners declaring "Fight for the freedom of the next generation", and expressed their thoughts against the copyright bill that may limit their freedom of expression in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Protesters said they worry the legislation could be manipulated as a tool of political prosecution against those who are using memes to taunt politicians and even reveal their defiance against the law.

"The law has a lot of gray areas and will open up a can of worms," said Alan Fan.

The copyright bill was scheduled for a council vote on Thursday. It has exemptions for caricature, parody, pastiche, satire, news reporting and commentary. It also requires to cite the reference of the original work and get permission from copyright owners.

Through the years, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has lobbied hard for the bill's way to fight digital piracy.

"Current law doesn't allow us to take action against Internet infringement, land ocal businesses carrying American content are being harmed," said Belinda Lui.

As a result, Lui said online piracy and illegal video streaming have run widespread. However, even some of those who are promoting massive copyright protection online said the bill casts such a wide net that Internet users can easily be caught.

"They drafted the legislation so broadly that it covers most of the activities the netizens have been doing," said Peter K. Yu, law professor and codirector of the Center for Law and Intellectual Property at Texas A&M University School of Law. "Just saying 'we're not going to prosecute you' doesn't address the concerns of the netizens. Most people now interpret this as something that targets their freedom of speech."

A million of Hong Kong's 7.3 million people have signed a petition protesting the bill. Hong Kong is one of the world's most wired cities, with a broadband penetration of 84% compared with the United States.

In recent years, Hong Kong developed an online parody sub-culture as disaffected local netizens lampoon officials and criticize government policies by repurposing pop songs or doctoring screen grabs.

"For most Internet users, right now they think anything goes," said Raymond Chan, a city legislator who protests the bill. "But with this bill, it's as though the government had put aside some birdcages and said, 'If you stay in there you'll be safe from civil suits and criminal prosecution.' So you can imagine the outcry."

Charles Mok, a Legislative Council member said that after spending the last few years working with the government in drafting the bill, he thinks the legislation is better than the status quo. Mok said he will vote in favor of the bill if it is revised to include the exemptions his constituents desire.

"Here we have a government very untrusted by the people, especially the politically minded young people who are used to expressing themselves online. That's the political reality," said Mok.

TagsFreedom of expression, Copyright Bill, Hongkongers, Hongkong netizens, freedom