A Legislative Council motion calling for the commemoration and vindication of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest was defeated yesterday for the 10th time since the handover, after pan-democratic lawmakers linked it to the plight of victims of the Sichuan earthquake.
Supporters of the non-binding motion tabled by the Democratic Party's Cheung Man-kwong urged people not to forget those who died in the democratic movement while mourning those killed in this month's disaster.
'Ahead of the June 4 anniversary, an estimated 80,000 Chinese people died in the big earthquake in Sichuan,' Mr Cheung said. 'Having learned from history, the Chinese government quickly rescued victims in an open manner ... It shows that a country which highly regards lives and trusts its people can win people's support and the world's respect.
'The humanism China demonstrates in its handling of the earthquake can also apply to the June 4 incident.'
Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, leader of the Civic Party, said there had been suggestions that the June 4 issue should be set aside this year because of the earthquake. But she said it was important to distinguish what was right from what was wrong.
The motion was defeated with 19 votes for, 10 votes against and 16 abstentions. The only lawmaker to speak apart from pan-democrats was Howard Young of the Liberal Party.