Citizens Commemorating the 33rd Anniversary of Tiananmen in Hong Kong Arrested... 'Candlelight' in Various Parts of the City

Hong Kong Ming Pao "At least 6 people detained by police as of night on the 4th"
US, EU, and other consulates in Hong Kong light candles in offices to join Tiananmen memorial

Hong Kong police dispersing people inside Victoria Park
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Hong Kong citizen activists commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident in China were arrested by the police.

On the 5th, Hong Kong Ming Pao reported that Liu Shanqing of the Hong Kong civic group Social Democratic Front was arrested the previous day while shouting inciting slogans.

According to the report, as of 11:30 PM on the 4th, at least six people were taken into police custody in connection with the commemoration.

At the time of arrest, Liu Shanqing was wearing a T-shirt depicting the late Li Yangwang, who participated in the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protests and was imprisoned for 22 years.

Chan Po-ying, chairman of the Social Democratic Front, explained, "Some members were arrested or questioned," adding, "The memorial event has been peaceful for 33 years, but today the police acted as if they were a massive enemy."

The vice chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (the organizer of the memorial ceremony) was also taken into police custody.

The police urgently detained Chow Hang-tung, vice chairman of the Alliance and a human rights lawyer, at 7 AM on the 4th. He had previously announced his intention to commemorate the Tiananmen incident at Victoria Park in a personal capacity.

On the same day, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), a former district councilor carrying a box containing a toy tank was also stopped and questioned.

Hong Kong police issued a strong pre-warning banning gatherings in preparation for the memorial ceremony held on the 4th. On the anniversary day, Victoria Park was declared an "operational zone," and everyone inside the park was dispersed.

On the night of the 4th, a man dressed in black was being checked by the police near Victoria Park in Hong Kong. Photo by EPA, Yonhap News

They also conducted searches on people dressed in black holding wreaths or candles. Black is the color symbolizing anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.

However, police warnings and crackdowns could not stop the procession of Hong Kong citizens commemorating the event.

SCMP reported, "Despite government crackdowns, small electronic candles or stickers depicting tanks appeared throughout the city on the 4th, and many posted photos of past candlelight vigils on social networking services (SNS)."

Not only Hong Kong citizens but also foreign missions in Hong Kong from the United States, the European Union (EU), Australia, Canada, and others lit candles in their offices or posted candle photos on SNS.

In particular, the U.S. Consulate General posted a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Facebook.

Secretary Blinken said, "The bloody crackdown on the Tiananmen protests was brutal violence," adding, "The efforts of brave individuals will not be forgotten. Every year, we commemorate and remember those who stood up for human rights and fundamental freedoms."

The Tiananmen incident refers to the event on June 4, 1989, when the Chinese government violently suppressed students and civilians demanding democratization at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.

Since June 4, 1990, candlelight vigils commemorating the Tiananmen incident have been held every year at 8 PM in Victoria Park, Hong Kong, but they have been suspended since 2020.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.