Editorial | Those who wish to mark June 4 lawfully in Hong Kong should be reassured
- With the candlelight vigil marking the Tiananmen crackdown banned for the second year running and the national security law having a wider effect, the Hong Kong government should clarify the legal position of the event, so the public is clear on what is permitted and what is not
The candlelight vigil marking the Tiananmen crackdown has long been seen as a litmus test for the continuation of Hong Kong’s freedoms.
Since 1990, tens of thousands have gathered for a peaceful ceremony in Victoria Park to remember the hundreds, maybe more, who died when student protests in Beijing were crushed by the military on June 4, 1989.
But Friday’s event has been banned. The vigil was prohibited last year, too. Authorities have cited the ongoing public health threat posed by the pandemic. But the passing of a national security law last year means questions are being asked about the future of the vigil, even after Covid-19 ceases to be a concern.
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There is some scepticism about the government’s use of the pandemic as a reason for banning the event. The organisers have pointed out that performance venues and theme parks are open again, with cases in the city at a very low level. But the threat of a new wave, fuelled by variants of the virus, remains.
The vigil has, in the past, sometimes attracted several hundred thousand people. It is understandable officials are concerned about potential health risks.
The impact of the security law, however, is uncertain. The vigil is organised by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which aims to end “one-party dictatorship” in China.
Some, including certain mainland academics, argue this is subversive and breaches the country’s constitution. Leading members of the alliance have been prosecuted for involvement in unlawful protests. It faces an uncertain future.