Bigger turnout spurred by Ma Lik comments
Hong Kong mourners for the Tiananmen victims feel proud of their 18-year persistence in holding candle-light vigils.
Remarks last month by the chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Ma Lik, that there had been 'no massacre' resulted in many mourners saying they had come to condemn Mr Ma.
'It is no doubt a world record created by Hongkongers - 18 years of candle-light at Victoria Park,' said Sin Man-fai, a 44-year-old schoolteacher.
Mr Sin has attended all the vigils since 1989 and donated HK$500 each year to the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. He attended the vigil last night with his brother and father-in-law. 'I also hope to see full democracy in Hong Kong,' the teacher said.
He pledged to continue attending the vigils until the 1989 student movement was vindicated.
The attendance yesterday was one of the largest since the handover. Organisers said about 55,000 people turned out, filling six football pitches in Victoria Park. The alliance had reported larger turnouts only in 1999 and 2004.
Li Wai-kum has taken her teenage son to the vigil for nine years running. The pair said they were especially angry this year at Mr Ma's 'ridiculous' remarks on the Tiananmen victims.
'Every candle here represents China's conscience. Many Chinese have forgotten it, but Hong Kong people still remember,' Ms Li said.
Slogans condemning Mr Ma could be seen and heard in various parts of the park, and emotions ran high when alliance members acted out the DAB chief's remarks on stage.
Form One student Henry Ho, 12, was attending his fourth vigil. Accompanied by his mother, he said: 'I don't know what exactly happened but I know many people died that day.
'As a Chinese, I feel I need to find out more about the incident. I don't have any specific demand but I'll keep coming to the vigil. I'll come next year.'
A fellow student, who only gave his name as Wong, said Mr Ma's comments had brought him and his classmates to the vigil. 'I would consider it a massacre even if only a small number of people had been killed,' he said.
Last night's vigil was attended by some Putonghua-speakers, who were afraid to speak to journalists. To make the vigil understandable to them, part of the proceedings were conducted or interpreted in Putonghua.
In Macau, about 200 people gathered in Senado Square for a candlelit vigil-cum-photo exhibition to remember the 1989 pro-democracy movement. Legislator Ng Kuok-cheong called for an investigation into the crackdown.
