The candles flickering in Victoria Park tonight will show that after 15 years, memories of the Tiananmen crackdown have not faded in Hong Kong. But the annual vigil symbolises more than a continuing desire to commemorate those who died. It provides the world with powerful evidence that our city's values and rights remain intact.
This is particularly important when the gathering comes at a time of concern about pressure on the freedom of expression and limits placed by the central government on the scope of our electoral reforms. Last year, similar worries about national security laws contributed to the relatively high turnout.
While the attendance seems to fluctuate according to the political climate, the date of June 4 remains a significant one in Hong Kong. And so it should. The violent crackdown against the pro-democracy movement on the mainland marked a defining moment in our city's history. It acted as a catalyst for political development here and helped shape the arrangements by which we were to be governed after returning to China in 1997. It is important that the tragedy is not forgotten.
However, the haunting images it evokes should, after all this time, no longer be the dominant factor in determining the way in which the mainland is viewed. China is, in many ways, a different country now. The mistakes made in 1989 are most unlikely to be repeated.
Part of the reason for this lies in Beijing's reaction to the events of that year. The democratic aspirations of students were only one of the elements that led to the protests. Rampant inflation, financial hardship and corruption were also important factors.
While political reform on the mainland has been very limited, the huge economic strides made over the past 15 years are well known. Living standards have been substantially improved. The central government's policies have focused on maintaining stability and striving to improve the welfare of the people. This can be seen in efforts to curb inflation and to improve the livelihood of those in poorer provinces. The circumstances that led to Tiananmen are no longer present.
In the years since the protests, the mainland has also opened up and played an increasingly important role on the world stage. It has nothing to gain and everything to lose from launching another crackdown.