Advertisement
Advertisement
June 4 vigil in Hong Kong
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Lee Cheuk-yan (centre), chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, is one of those facing prosecution over last week’s Victoria Park gathering. Photo: AFP

Tiananmen vigil organisers, media boss Jimmy Lai to be prosecuted on incitement charges over Victoria Park gathering, Hong Kong police source says

  • The case, which will go to court on June 23, stems from a crowd of thousands turning out in defiance of a ban on the yearly candlelight gathering
  • Police, meanwhile, mobilise 3,000 riot officers ahead of potential Friday protests marking force’s first use of tear gas on June 12 last year
At least three vigil organisers and media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying will be prosecuted over the gathering of thousands in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park last week to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, police have told them.
News of the prosecutions came as activists were expected back on the streets on Friday to mark last year’s June 12 protest, in which police fired tear gas and rubber bullets for the first time in dispersing tens of thousands besieging the city’s administrative centre.

A police source said the force would have 3,000 riot officers mobilised, though it was believed the protest will largely be limited to singing.

06:13

Thousands of Hongkongers defy ban and gather to mark Tiananmen anniversary

Thousands of Hongkongers defy ban and gather to mark Tiananmen anniversary

Writing on his Facebook page on Thursday, Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said officers informed him he would receive a court summons for inciting people to take part in an unauthorised assembly on June 4.

Lee said the prosecutions were expected “in retaliation” for exercising their right of assembly.

“When you look at the overall Hong Kong situation, police are abusing their power to arrest, the Department of Justice is abusing its power to prosecute and trying to [intimidate] the people of Hong Kong when we exercise our right to assembly,” he told the media.

Lee said candles were lit across Hong Kong on June 4, peacefully and without incident.

As it happened: thousands defy ban in Hong Kong to mark Tiananmen anniversary

According to a police source, Lee, alliance members Albert Ho Chun-yan and Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Lai will be charged with inciting others to take part in an unauthorised assembly.

A police spokesman later confirmed four men had been charged, but did not disclose their names. The case will go to court on June 23, he said, while more arrests are yet possible.

After police denied – for the first time in 30 years – the alliance’s application for the annual assembly on public health grounds, organisers said they would instead hold the event in groups of eight, the limit for public gatherings under Covid-19 restrictions.

Police sources at the time said attempts to get around the law in that manner would fail if the total number of people gathering for a common purpose in a public place exceeded that figure.

Thousands flooded the football pitches at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay in defiance of a ban on the annual Tiananmen candlelight vigil. Photo: May Tse

On the evening of June 4, Lee entered the park along with Lai and more than 10 other opposition figures, who were joined by thousands of others in commemorating the crackdown. There was no stage at the event as in previous years, while those in attendance remembered the deceased with songs and candlelight.

Some shouted alliance slogans challenging Beijing authority, including “End one-party rule!”, while others chanted their opposition to the coming national security law. Police did not intervene as the crowds flooded into the park.

On Friday, protesters could again defy social-distancing rules as they mark the one-year anniversary of a major clash outside the Legislative Council, when thousands gathered to demand the withdrawal of an extradition bill that would have allowed alleged criminals to be tried in mainland China.

Tiananmen vigil banned, but city’s spirit of commemoration for June 4th shines on

The clashes that day marked a turning point in the anti-extradition movement, with police for the first time firing rounds of tear gas at protesters they accused of resorting to violence. Demonstrators, in turn, blamed police for using excessive force.

“We need to keep our fight going and not give up,” said activist Ventus Lau Wing-hong, who planned to set up about 40 street booths across the city on Friday evening with help from pro-democracy district councillors.

Images from last year’s anti-government protests will be on display at the booths, versions of which will be placed outside the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, Langham Place mall in Mong Kok and the Yuen Long MTR station, among other places.

Hongkongers, gathered in defiance of a police ban on the assembly, hold candles aloft to mark the June 4 anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown.Photo: Felix Wong

Lau urged Hongkongers to don black and sing Glory to Hong Kong, the protest’s unofficial anthem, at 8pm.

According to the police source, about 2,000 of the riot officers mobilised for Friday will be on Hong Kong Island, where two water cannons will also be deployed. Another 1,000 officers will be based in other districts, primarily in Kowloon West.

“Now it appears protests will take place across the territory in the form of ‘Sing With You’,” he said, using a protester term for the event. “We are ready for it.”

Another source said about 140 riot officers would be based in every district to tackle potential hit-and-run strikes by protesters hoping to tie down police resources.

Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organiser faces ‘financial crisis’ as June 4 event raises less than third of previous year’s total

He stressed that sufficient manpower would be ready to guard against any eventuality.

“Each district is prepared,” he said. “We know they have their favourite places.”

It is understood police vehicles carrying riot officers will be stationed near locations protesters have targeted previously.

A third source said those who join the so-called “Sing With You” events could be fined under the current social-distancing rules or arrested for unlawful assembly if they ignore police warnings to disperse.

Separately, human rights organisation Amnesty International on Friday said Hong Kong police actions during last year’s anti-government protests may have “constituted torture or other ill treatment under international law in some instances”.

Police commander gives inside account of what led to firing tear gas during Legco protests in Hong Kong on June 12

In a new global report on the use of tear gas, the organisation identified six instances in which it said police used excessive amounts of the crowd-control agent, deployed it inside confined spaces and fired it directly at protesters.

The organisation said police use of tear gas against a “largely peaceful” crowd was unlawful and could have risked serious injury or even death.

It vowed to lobby the United Nations to put more restrictions on the global tear gas trade.

“Tear gas should be covered by the international controls on less lethal weapons and restraints, [which is] currently being discussed at the UN,” it said.

Additional reporting by Tony Cheung, Sum Lok-kei and Danny Mok

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Tiananmen vigil organisers and jimmy lai to face court
Post