On the 34th anniversary of the violent Tiananmen Square crackdown in China, Hong Kong police detained more than 20 people, including notable pro-democracy figures, as Chinese authorities tightened access to Tiananmen Square in downtown Beijing.
Police in Hong Kong reported late on Sunday that they had apprehended 23 suspects for “breaching the peace” ranging in age from 20 to 74. A 53-year-old lady was detained for impeding law enforcement.
Chan Po-ying, a seasoned campaigner and the leader of the League of Social Democrats, was temporarily detained in a bustling Hong Kong commercial centre, which for years served as the location of memorial services for the brutal crackdown in China on June 4, 1989.
Chan was apprehended by police and put into a van while carrying a little LED candle, which is a regular sight during the annual vigil, and two flowers. Two hours later, she was released. Numerous stop-and-search operations were performed close to Victoria Park.
Other well-known pro-democracy activists taken into custody by the police were Grandma Wong activist Alexandra Wong, former Hong Kong Journalists Association head Mak Yin-ting, and former Confederation of Trade Unions leader Leo Tang. A woman who yelled, “Raise candles! ” as other people are being held. “Mourn 64!” is an acronym for the important date.
As she was being detained by the police, a reporter for a Hong Kong news organisation was overheard saying, “I didn’t do anything.”
A former member of the organisation that had planned the yearly Tiananmen vigil, the Hong Kong Alliance, Tsui Hon-kwong, was also expelled while carrying an LED candle. On Sunday, police in Hong Kong questioned locals near Victoria Park.
32 people were detained throughout the course of Saturday and Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
Heightened Security around Tiananmen SquareÂ
Around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where security checks have historically required visitors to present identification, more security was seen. On Changan Avenue, which runs north of the square, those going on foot or by bicycle were also stopped and made to produce identification. Journalists with visas in their passports were informed that they required special authorization to even enter the area.
Hundreds of people were waiting in line to enter the square as hundreds more were seen visiting the famous location.
As a result of its semi-autonomous status, Hong Kong had the only large-scale public commemoration of the Tiananmen events in China for many years. This event served as a barometer of the city’s political pluralism and freedoms.
Since 1990, Victoria Park has hosted an annual vigil that draws tens of thousands to the candlelight memorial. However, Beijing slapped a national security law on the city in 2020 to put an end to dissent after massive and occasionally violent pro-democracy protests shook the financial centre. Since then, the vigil has been prohibited, and its leaders have been detained and accused of violating the security law.
In the weeks leading up to the anniversary this year, officials consistently declined to specify whether or not it was unlawful for people to publicly lament the tragedy.
This year, according to local media, security has been dramatically tightened around Hong Kong, with up to 6,000 police personnel deployed, including riot and anti-terrorism officials.
