For the second year in a row, the sea of candlelight that once lit Hong Kong’s Victoria Park on June 4 has been extinguished as authorities seek to remove all public commemorations of the massacre across the country. Tiananmen Square in 1989 from the city – the last place on Chinese-controlled Land where they are held.
But a heavy police presence on Saturday failed to stop some Hongkongers from reaching the park and carrying out acts of remembrance for their defiance – by holding up electronic candles and phone flashlights or quietly sing songs of remembrance.
“It’s heartbreaking to see (Victoria Park) like this,” said a woman surnamed Lau who arrived at the park with a bouquet of red and white roses and electric candles.
Lau, a longtime volunteer with the Tiananmen Mothers Campaign, a group that supports the families of the victims, said: “Hong Kong has sunk deeply and quickly into police status.
For three decades, Hong Kong has mourned the victims of the Chinese military’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters with a candlelight vigil on the night of June 4 with the attended by tens of thousands of people and vowed never to forget.
But as of 2020, the Hong Kong government has banned the event citing the risk from the coronavirus – although many Hong Kongers believe it is just an excuse to rein in dissident expressions. public following the pro-democracy protests that swept the city in 2019.
On Friday, a government statement said large parts of Victoria Park would be closed from Friday night until the early hours of Sunday to “prevent any unauthorized gatherings affecting public safety”. community and public order, and prevent the risk of virus transmission due to such gatherings.”
It comes a day after police warned that residents risked committing “illegal assembly” if they showed up in the park – even when alone.
Throughout Saturday, large numbers of police patrolled the park and the neighboring Causeway Bay shopping district.
Among the people they stopped and searched for were people dressed in black – the color of the Hong Kong protests, carrying flowers or walking with torches on their phones.
Police confirmed later that they had arrested five men and one woman, aged between 19 and 80. One was charged with possession of an assault weapon; three were charged with obstructing an officer; and one person is said to have incited others to join an illegal group. It is not clear what the sixth person is accused of.
Police also cordoned off the area of a nearby shopping street where, in previous years, pro-democracy activists would gather to be on high alert, causing some passersby to be searched.
However, some people are still determined to visit the park and make small gestures in remembrance.
Lau, a volunteer with the Tiananmen Mothers Campaign, holds up an electric candle for a photo in front of a fenced-in soccer field. She said she and her colleagues distributed electric candles to Hongkongers throughout the afternoon – in keeping with the group’s tradition.
“I think the vigil is the most important symbol of Hong Kongers’ pursuit of freedom – it shows the world our unwavering determination. I believe we all have a candle. light up in our hearts tonight, whether we choose to leave or not,” she said.
After nightfall, police cordoned off more areas of the park, driving people out with assault lines. Eventually all entrances were blocked off, allowing only people to leave the park.
Inside the park, two women sang “Democracy Will Triumph and Return,” one of the festival’s traditional songs, as they walked the jogging path. The policemen followed not far behind, advancing in front of the fence.
Brian, a man in his 30s wearing all black, turned on his phone’s flashlight at 8 p.m., the traditional daylight time. He did this despite being searched by police while sitting in the park the night before, when officers recorded his ID number. He said he was ready to pay the price.
“The government doesn’t want us to tell the truth. If we don’t come out, I worry that future generations of Hong Kong won’t know about June 4,” he said.
Outside the park, those unable to enter walked along the nearby streets, some turning on their phone flashers.
Joe, 46, took his 11-year-old daughter to the park, but was denied entry. Instead, they stood at a bus stop across the street, each holding an electric candle.
“The candles are a symbol of remembrance for Hong Kong, but now it seems even holding them can be dangerous,” he said.
However, he was still glad he took his daughter with him. “I wanted to let her know what happened back then, as much as possible,” he said.
