Global Courant
HONG KONG — Hong Kong police arrested eight people, including activists and artists, on the eve of the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in China, a move that highlights the city’s declining freedom of expression.
Police said in a statement late on Saturday that four people have been arrested for allegedly disturbing the peace in public places or committing acts with incendiary intent. Four others were taken for investigation on suspicion of public order violations. Authorities did not immediately respond to an email asking for comment on Saturday.
For decades, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers held an annual candlelight vigil in Victoria Park on June 4 to commemorate the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in which tanks drove into the heart of Beijing and killed hundreds, possibly thousands. .
During the pandemic, protests in Hong Kong have been rare due to COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, many activists there have been silenced or jailed after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law following mass protests in 2019. When the British handed over Hong Kong to Beijing in 1997, they were promised 50 years of self-rule and freedom of assembly. speech and press not allowed in mainland China, but critics say those freedoms are being eroded.
This year’s Tiananmen Commemoration is expected to be muted. Many Hong Kongers are trying to mark the event in private ways, as it is unclear what authorities might consider subversive.
Earlier Saturday, activists Kwan Chun-pong and Lau Ka-yee were detained after appearing near the former site of the candlelight vigil to say they would not eat for about 24 hours to mourn the victims.
“We now start fasting at 6:04 p.m.,” Lau said with flowers in her hand, referring to the June 4 date of the crackdown. They also carried papers stating that they were fasting and mourning the dead at Tiananmen.
This relatively mild protest nevertheless resulted in police officers arriving within minutes and dropping off the couple, who later taped bureaucracy over their mouths. An officer warned them that they might be breaking the law for having seditious intent, and ordered them to stop their activities or face arrest.
They were taken away by the police a few minutes later. It was unclear if they were formally arrested.
As night fell, the police took away five others, including two artists, Sanmu Chen and Chan Mei-tung.
Surrounded by police officers, Samnu Chen chanted, “Hong Kongers, don’t be afraid. Don’t forget that tomorrow is June 4.” Chan Mei-tung was standing and walking on a street in Causeway Bay before being dropped off by police.
It is unclear whether other activists will show up on Sunday to publicly commemorate the anniversary. The park will instead be occupied by a carnival organized by pro-Beijing groups to celebrate Hong Kong’s handover to Chinese rule. The organizers say there will be a bazaar with food from all over China.
