The Hong Kong government has rejected the use of the phrase “Hong Kong add oil” on a festive lights display because it may “affect social harmony,” according to a pro-democracy district councilor.Yau Tsim Mong district councilor Ben Lam posted on Facebook on Wednesday that the Home Affairs Department had rejected the use of the popular colloquialism in order to “avoid causing misunderstandings and affecting social harmony.””Hong Kong add oil” is a widely used Cantonese phrase intended to encourage people to do their best in trying situations, such as during an exam or a sports event. While the phrase is not exclusively political, it was also used during the 2019 anti-government protests to encourage demonstrators to continue fighting.

In his Facebook post, Lam sarcastically asked that the government should also refrain from using the phrase. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has previously written “add oil” in her own Facebook posts.The Home Affairs Department has previously rejected the use of the phrase “wishing you a life of peace” on a set of Lunar New Year greeting materials used by Wong Tai Sin district councilor Mok Yee-ha. The reasons given on that occasion were that the phrase is not a common expression for Lunar New Year greetings, and could potentially cause misunderstanding or discontent in society.

Jeremy Tam, a former lawmaker from the pro-democracy Civic Party, said on Facebook that banning “Hong Kong add oil” showed that “it’s no wonder Hong Kong has declined so much.” Tam also pointed out that Carrie Lam had used the phrase herself when the HK$10,000 cash handout was announced as part of the budget speech in February this year.

“Add oil” was added as an official entry in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018. The entry describes “add oil” as an “originally and chiefly Hong Kong English” phrase used to express encouragement, incitement or support.

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