Tiananmen vigil: thousands of Hong Kong police officers mobilised for banned June 4 events
- The force says the ban will be officially enforced on the grounds of existing Covid-19 restrictions
- Those trying to circumvent the rules by breaking into smaller groups will still be breaking the law, according to police
More than 3,000 riot officers will be deployed on Thursday to enforce a ban against the annual candlelight vigil to commemorate the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and other public gatherings, according to police insiders.
They said the ban was being officially enforced on health grounds, and those trying to circumvent the rules by splitting into smaller groups would still be breaking the law.
The warning of a heavy police presence came as organisers of the June 4 mass rally at Victoria Park said they still planned to go regardless, in groups of eight, the limit for public gatherings for at least two more weeks under Covid-19 restrictions.
“Police will observe and enforce the law as the situation requires,” a high-ranking officer told the Post.
Police sources said attempts to get around the law by meeting in groups of eight or fewer would fail if the total number of people gathering for a common purpose in a public place exceeded that figure.