Chinese officials in Hong Kong order events to mark 1967 riots postponed to avoid spoiling handover anniversary celebration
Journalist Ching Cheong reveals ex-rioters eager to mark 50 years since deadly protests in city bowed to Beijing’s liaison office and delayed events so celebrations of 20th anniversary of Chinese rule of Hong Kong wouldn’t be hit
Events to mark this month’s 50th anniversary of the 1967 riots in Hong Kong, organised by people arrested during that time, have been postponed on orders from the Chinese government’s liaison office in the city, which feared the event would spoil celebrations for the 20th anniversary of its handover to Chinese rule.
“The rioters planned to show two films and organise a seminar in May, but they were told by the central liaison office not to hold any activities before July 1 and immediately they took the order,” journalist Ching Cheong said at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club on Wednesday during a club lunch discussing the legacy of the riots.
The former rioters, members of the 67 Synergy Group, planned to screen two new films about the riots - The May Storm and Number One Sino-British Street – both in Cantonese. Professor Ming Chan, a fellow at the Hoover Institution in the United States, was set to chair the seminar.
The rioters themselves, who are so eager, adamant at reversing the verdict on them, still prefer to take orders from Beijing
“The rioters themselves, who are so eager, adamant at reversing the verdict on them, still prefer to take orders from Beijing. I was told by Professor Chan that the events would be postponed until end of the year,” said Ching, who had been invited to speak at the seminar.