Things may well be a bit awkward at the Lam household after the husband of Hong Kong’s leader was spotted not clapping along during a patriotic sing-along led by Xi Jinping.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the handover of the former Portuguese colony of Macau, China held a grand, Chinese New Year-style gala on Friday attended by Xi, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Lam’s husband, Lam Siu-por.

The event culminated in a rendition of “Ode to the Motherland” in which Xi himself took center-stage, leading the singing and clapping. Footage from the front row shows top Chinese officials clapping along in unison with Xi, except for Lam Siu-por, who instead stands with his arms crossed in front of him, looking more than a bit sulky.

Carrie Lam’s Husband Dr. Lam Siu-bor decided to take no action when everyone was singing “Ode to the Motherland 歌唱祖國” in Macau. pic.twitter.com/QXctElWMVV — Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng) December 20, 2019

Well … at least #CarrieLam husband (man in a blue suit) knows how to defy #XiJinping's blind nationalistic call. #macao pic.twitter.com/CCbhaPblh5 — Demosistō 香港眾志 😷 (@demosisto) December 20, 2019

HK leader Carrie Lam's husband, Lam Siu-por, has been hailed by some as gutsy frontline 'sau zuk' (hands & feet, the term protesters called each other) after a Macau Daily video shows he has refused to clap & sing the patriotic song with others during the #Macau20 show last night pic.twitter.com/xSU8biG5PM — Jeffie Lam (@jeffielam) December 20, 2019

Netizens have wondered if Lam Siu-por’s failure to clap indicates his unhappiness with the “motherland” or just a general dislike of this kind of pomp. He is a mathematician who met his wife when they were both studying at Cambridge University. They have been married for 34 years.

Lam Siu-por has stayed out of politics, spending his time pursuing his academic career and raising the couple’s children in the United Kingdom. He is a British citizen.