Hong Kong and China Tighten Security Ahead of Tiananmen's 35th Anniversary

Jun 4, 2024, 12:12 AM

As the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre approaches, authorities in Hong Kong and China have tightened security and increased policing to prevent public commemoration of the event. Hong Kong police have been deployed in large numbers, particularly in Causeway Bay, where they have detained dissidents and restricted media coverage. The Hong Kong government has banned public vigils, and leaders have emphasized safeguarding national security. Exco members have stated that Hongkongers can mark the Tiananmen crackdown in private. Overseas, communities have held commemorations to honor the victims and keep the memory alive, including gatherings in Reading, UK, and Parliament Square, London. Participants expressed support for the Tiananmen Mothers and signed petitions to free Chow Hang-Tung. In Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te vowed to remember the crackdown and support Chinese democracy. The international community continues to criticize China's repression of free speech and efforts to erase the historical memory of the massacre.