Hong Kongers get imaginative as authorities ban Tiananmen vigil
03 June, 2021
Hong Kongers are seeking innovative ways to commemorate the victims of China's deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown after authorities banned an twelve-monthly vigil and vowed to stamp away any protests arrive Friday's anniversary.
Debate of tanks and troops quelling relaxing democracy protesters found in Beijing on Jun 4, 1989 is all but forbidden found in the mainland and there is heavy censorship of the images from the crackdown so well known in all of those other world.
However in semi-autonomous Hong Kong the day has been remembered with large candlelight vigils found in Victoria Park going back three decades.
Previous year's vigil was banned for the very first time as a result of the coronavirus, but thousands defied police and rallied anyway.
Substantially has changed in Hong Kong during the last year as authorities look for to snuff away the city's pro-democracy activity utilizing a sweeping national security legislation that criminalises substantially dissent.
This year's vigil has been banned again, ostensibly as a result of the coronavirus - although Hong Kong has not recorded an unexplained locally transmitted case in greater than a month.
Officials also have warned that the reliability law could possibly be wielded against Tiananmen mourners.
Thus Hong Kongers are receiving creative.
Local artist Kacey Wong has gathered a huge selection of spent candle stubs from earlier vigils and plans to give them to residents on Friday night.
"It is time to redistribute them to the people of Hong Kong to allow them to collect them, preserve them and set them in a safe and sound place," Wong told AFP.
Wong has previously turned the candles into artworks but gives them away this season at two shops of local clothing manufacturer Chickeeduck, which offers pro-democracy merchandise.
"Each burned candle consists of someone's mourning towards those that sacrificed themselves in pursuit of democracy, in addition to one's desiring democracy, a mix of complex emotions," described Wong.
"It's a testimony of pray ... I hope they are able to continue to shine just how towards independence and democracy."
ZERO TOLERANCE
During last year's vigil, police took a back seat when crowds massed and dispersed peacefully in Victoria Recreation area - although they after arrested ringleaders, some of whom have seeing that been jailed.
Authorities seem to be taking a more proactive strategy this year.
Police say they plan to have about 3,000 officers on standby and can stop crowds before they gather in the recreation area, which is currently overlooked by a fresh device of Chinese mainland secureness agents located in a luxury hotel.
Hong Kong's Security Bureau has warned that attending an unlawful protest may bring five years in jail, and one year for those who publicise rallies.
Pro-Beijing figures say famous slogans shouted at the Tiananmen vigils such as for example "End one-party guideline" and "Bring democracy to China" are now illegal.
Protection Minister John Lee features said the security laws will be utilized against anyone who exactly "organises, plans or carries out any illegal methods to damage or perhaps overthrow the fundamental system under the Chinese constitution".
On Tuesday, hygiene inspectors visited a newly reopened Tiananmen museum that's run by the same group organising the total annual vigil.
The inspectors said the location was operating without the mandatory licences and the museum closed its doors the following day.
"REFUSE TO FORGET"
But activists say authorities will battle to get rid of all acts of commemoration in a metropolis that even so seethes with resentment towards Beijing after 2019's huge and frequently violent protests were stamped away.
Historically, the Tiananmen vigil candles happen to be lit at 8.09pm - representing 1989.
Albert Ho - a now-jailed previous lawmaker and one of the vigil organisers - recommended Hong Kongers could light candles or shine mobile phone lights in their local neighbourhoods.
"We can respect the whole of Hong Kong as Victoria Park," he told the Southern China Morning Post before he was sentenced the other day for attending previous protests.
Public media presents another avenue.
Artist Pak Sheung-chuen offers called on residents to create the numbers 6 and four - representing Jun 4 - about light switches in an effort to memorialise Tiananmen whenever they turn them on.
"Guard the reality and won't forget," Pak said in Facebook.
Designer Chan Ka-hing posted another idea on social mass media. He printed a black rectangle with a 6:4 ratio on a white t-clothing and said others were welcome to copy the design.
District councillor Debby Chan said she strategies to mourn Tiananmen by positioning a poetry reading and sharing session with residents on her neighbourhood.
"Commemorating Jun 4 is definitely portion of Hong Kong's pro-democracy activity," she told AFP.
"This is the most signature happenings of our movement. If we quit now, the crimson lines is only going to come closer in the future."
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