Hong Kong Students Hold Ceremony on Tiananmen Crackdown Anniversary
Published Date: 6/4/2021
Source: Bloomberg Quicktake: Now
University of Hong Kong students hold an annual “washing” ceremony at the Pillar of Shame sculpture that commemorates China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown on June 4, 1989. "We shall learn how our predecessors defend the freedom of expression before and we shall not easily give up," said one student. Hong Kong activists planned private vigils and religious services to commemorate China’s deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, as a prominent organizer was arrested and thousands of police were deployed to prevent any mass protests. Democracy proponents urged supporters to mark the event in any way they could, including turning on their lights at 8 p.m., after the government banned an annual vigil, citing coronavirus concerns. Police planned to deploy 7,000 personnel around the city on Friday to enforce bans on gathering, including 3,000 to lock down the traditional vigil site at Victoria Park, local media including Radio Television Hong Kong reported. Chow Hang Tung, who was an organizer of the vigil before police denied it a permit last week, was arrested on suspicion of promoting an unauthorized assembly, broadcaster TVB reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Richard Tsoi, the secretary of Chow’s group, Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said they were trying to confirm the report. While the police wouldn’t confirm the number of officers, a spokesperson said that staffing would be sufficient to “quickly and decisively” enforce the law. “The police appeal to the public not to participate in, advertise or publicize any unauthorized assembly or prohibited group gathering, and to avoid gathering to reduce the risk of virus spread,” the spokesperson said. While democracy advocates have accused the government of using coronavirus measures that cap gatherings at four people to limit their rights to free speech and assembly, many are planning low-key commemorations to avoid arrest. Hong Kong authorities have increasingly refused permits for protests since a wave of unrest in 2019, threatening those who participate with jail time, even after weeks of near-zero infections. The decision to ban the peaceful Tiananmen vigil for the second straight year has been seen by democracy proponents as confirmation that China has rolled back the freedoms it once allowed in the former British colony. The gathering in Victoria Park, in which as many as 180,000 people held candles and listened to speeches calling for greater democracy, has become an enduring symbol of Hong Kong’s tolerance of political dissent. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world. To watch complete coverage on Bloomberg Quicktake 24/7, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/qt/live, or watch on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV and Android TV on the Bloomberg app. Have a story to tell? Fill out this survey for a chance to have it featured on Bloomberg Quicktake: https://cor.us/surveys/27AF30 Connect with us on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Bloomberg Breaking News on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BloombergQuickTakeNews Twitter: https://twitter.com/quicktake Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quicktake Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quicktake