The June 4 anniversary remains significant to many in Hong Kong
- The anniversary’s importance cannot be underestimated, but with uncertainty about where red lines are drawn, most people err on the side of caution
Hong Kong’s famous candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown last took place four years ago on Sunday. Tens of thousands gathered in Victoria Park, creating the familiar sea of twinkling candles. They chanted: “We will never forget.”
The event had been held annually since 1990. But soon after the vigil in 2019, months of civil unrest began. Then, the pandemic descended. Beijing, responding to the anti-government protests, made transformative legal and political changes.
The new environment is evident in the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s anniversary. Victoria Park is partly closed for renovation. Remaining space has “by coincidence” been booked by pro-Beijing groups for a cultural carnival.
But no one was organising a vigil anyway. The legal risks are too high. The event had been run by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements. The alliance, which called for an end to one-party rule in China, disbanded in 2021, a year after the passing of a new national security law. Leading members are awaiting trial on subversion charges.
The political climate is not conducive to commemorative activities. Books about the Tiananmen crackdown have been removed from libraries along with others deemed to be not in the interests of Hong Kong. They have disappeared from bookshops, too.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung has warned the police will take resolute action against anyone using the anniversary to undermine national security. There will be a strong police presence in parts of the city considered high risk on Sunday, with up to 5,000 officers deployed. Security is expected to be ramped up around Victoria Park.
But it is the uncertainty about where the legal red lines will be drawn that poses the biggest impediment to commemorations, big or small. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu reminded people to obey the law. But the relevant laws are broad and can be applied to a wide range of circumstances. People are unsure what is legal and what is not. Most will err on the side of caution.
The importance of the anniversary to Hong Kong should not, however, be underestimated. The crackdown came at a critical time, when the city was preparing to return to China in 1997.
Many Hong Kong people supported the student-led protests in Beijing, which called for democracy, economic reform and an end to corruption. They were shocked when the demonstrations were suppressed, with hundreds of lives lost.
Hong Kong security chief warns troublemakers ahead of June 4 anniversary
The strength of feeling in the city was driven by a recognition that its future lay as part of China and a belief that greater democracy would bode well for Hong Kong. But Beijing saw support in the city for the movement as subversive. Those events created long-lasting divisions and shaped Hong Kong politics for years to come.
Hong Kong is now charting a different path, after the 2019 protests and the political changes that followed. Opposition figures have been arrested and a new system which ensures only “patriots” have positions of influence is in place. Public protests are discouraged and the few that do take place must meet strict requirements.
It is difficult to imagine the Tiananmen vigil taking place in the future, unless circumstances change. But the anniversary remains significant for many Hong Kong people. As security chief Tang suggested, it is “a very special occasion”.
The vigil, poignant and peaceful, was a potent symbol of Hong Kong’s freedoms being maintained under the “one country, two systems” arrangements. Officials are keen to counter negative perceptions of the city with “good and true stories”. Images of thousands of people solemnly commemorating the crackdown in Victoria Park would have sent a positive message around the world.
Those images will not be seen tonight. People will mark the occasion in their own way. Most will do so privately. It is to be hoped there will be no trouble or any need for arrests.
The Tiananmen anniversary remains close to many Hong Kong people’s hearts. There may not be a vigil, but the city will never forget.
