Soaking for June 4 protesters as storm lashes area

Hong Kong Island bore the brunt of last night's storm that forced the annual June 4 candlelight vigil to end prematurely, while also soaking mourners elsewhere in the city who staged their own protests.

Observatory data showed that at 8.45pm more than 30mm of rain had fallen in an hour in the Wan Chai and Causeway Bay area, which includes Victoria Park. The rain caused a 15-minute power failure at 8pm, but the lights and sound system came back at 8.15pm, when the vigil started.

At 8.50pm, however, the organisers announced that the heavy rain had created problems with the broadcast system and the vigil had to end an hour earlier than planned.

Video speeches by Li Wangling, sister of June 4 activist Li Wangyang, who allegedly committed suicide last year, and Wang Dan, a leader in the 1989 student movement, could not be shown.

Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, said he was touched to see that so many people had stayed despite the rain.

"Their participation showed spirit," Lee said. "We showed Beijing our perseverance tonight."