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| Thousands defied the police ban to join this year's commemoration of the June 4th event (photos from RTHK) |
Thousands of people gathered in Victoria Park tonight to
hold the annual candlelight vigil in remembrance of those who died in the June
4 crackdown on dissent in Beijing Tienanmen Square
The yearly event pushed through even after the police
rejected an application for the mass gathering, citing social distancing
regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s the biggest show of force by pro-democracy advocates in
Hong Kong since China
Local media reports say members of the traditional
organizer, the Alliance in Support of Patriotic
Democratic Movements of China
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| Protesters, both young and old, observed social distancing during the vigil |
By 8pm, the small crowd of about a hundred people grew into
the thousands, with more people streaming in from everywhere to fill the two
football pitches in the park.
Shortly afterwards, a minute of silence was called to
remember those who died in the Tienanmen crackdown.
Police stayed in the perimeters of the park, and
continuously broadcast messages warning of arrest for those who violate the
prohibition against the gathering of more than eight people, but made no moves
to stop the crowd from streaming in.
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| Lee (with microphone) urged people to chant slogans to call for democracy in HK and China |
“Vindicate June 4th! End to one party rule!
Democracy in China
Inside the park, protesters are seen to make an effort to
keep distance between them, so as to comply with the anti-Covid regulation.
But many of those who took part said they had to make their
voices heard, despite the looming crackdown from Beijing
Among them was Han Dongfang, a labour leader who landed in China ’s most wanted list after taking part in
the Tienanmen protests, and is now a Hong Kong
resident.
A report in the South China Morning Post quoted Han as
saying, “Victoria Park is an important place. When there is a public gathering,
I have to come.”
Lee vowed to continue organizing the commemoration even
after the security law is passed, and called on Hong Kong
people not to give up their fight for democracy.
“We will fight on, and we will let the world know we Hong Kong people will not give up our freedom,” he said.
By 8:45pm, he and the other organizers announced the end of
the vigil, and most people started leaving in an orderly manner.
Less than two hours later, however, there were reports of
another violent clash in Mong Kok between protesters and the police.
