Coronavirus restrictions and China’s encroachment on the territory changed the annual vigil.
Thousands of people in Hong Kong defiantly commemorated the Tiananmen Square massacre on Thursday, holding a vigil despite a police ban as the territory witnesses Beijing stamp out its freedoms in real time.
Each year, the pro-democracy protesters killed by Chinese government forceson June 4,1989, are honored in Hong Kong — one of the few places in China, along with Macau, where the day is usually allowed to be recognized. China has tried to erase and rewrite the history of the massacre, and in the mainland, little is known of how the Chinese military crushed the democracy movement.
But this year, for the first time, Hong Kong authorities refused to grant a permit for the candlelight vigil, which is traditionally held in Victoria Park. The reason given was the coronavirus: Mass gatherings of more than eight people are restricted under current social distancing rules. However, many other restrictions have been lifted in Hong Kong, and the territory has very few cases — on June 4, the government reported six infections; the day before, zero. (Activists in Macau were also denied a permit.)
But thousands of Hongkongers gathered on June 4 anyway outside of Victoria Park, which had been barricaded off by police. Many tried to observe social distancing rules by sitting or standing apart as they chanted pro-democracy slogans and, in some instances, rallied for Hong Kong’s independence from China, once a radical idea.
Instead of “End to the one-party dictatorship!” “Vindicate June4th!” Attendees of the vigil are now chanting:“Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time!”“Five demands, not one less”“Hong Kong independence, the only way out!” pic.twitter.com/t1ni7aP3C5
Defying a government ban and threats to prosecute attendees, thousands of people in Hong Kong have shown up at a Tiananmen vigil (but are still social distancing) pic.twitter.com/UY7eZeQhup
Others brought candles to other parts of the city, as organizers of the vigil had encouraged Hongkongers to “light a candle wherever they are.”
People in every corner of #HK marked #June4 with candlelight, defying police ban on candlelight vigil in Victoria Park (where thousands came out regardless). This is the #HK spirit of the resistance of ordinary people that one day will prevail. #6431truthpic.twitter.com/EPz9VBex4N
“We fight for the same things as they did [in Tiananmen Square] 31 years ago,” 24-year-old Hammond Tong told the Washington Post. “The Chinese Communist Party has not changed one bit — the oppression, suppression and persecution have only increased. We must not forget, nor can we stop fighting.
