On the eve of the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the latest issue of Hong Kong’s “Epoch Forum” features a significant amount of blank space on its front page, also known as “opening a skylight”. The editorial of the weekly publication stated, “As media, we should not disappoint history and readers. Only by turning every paragraph of text into blank spaces and a blank page can we respond to the current situation.”
The Hong Kong Christian weekly magazine “Epoch Forum” (Christian Times), founded in 1987, chose to leave most of its latest issue, dated June 2, 1918 edition, blank on its front page before the 35th anniversary of the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement at Tiananmen Square by the Chinese Communist Party in 1989. The empty space reads, “The cover story of this issue cannot be published this time. We seek readers’ understanding.”
The website of the forum displays the left side of the front page of this issue with a click labeled “Cover Story”, showing only the text “Cover Story cannot be published”, along with “The cover story of this issue cannot be published this time. We seek readers’ understanding.”
The second article of this issue’s front page, titled “Praying on the Shoulders of Historical Memory” mentions that the events of the spring and summer of that year have been engraved as a collective memory and a guiding line of political ethics for a generation of Hong Kong citizens, prompting reflection on the past to avoid repeating mistakes.
The article emphasizes the importance of facing history honestly not to sustain enmity or malice but for sincere repentance and reconciliation, aiming to ensure a society that confronts facts, learns from errors, and avoids repeating them.
The editorial also underlines the significance of mourning for the deceased and offering care to the living as a natural and compassionate conduct, particularly pertinent in light of the evolving social dynamics and sensitivities in Hong Kong.
Over the past years, Hong Kong’s society has undergone drastic transformations since the implementation of the National Security Law in June 2020, resulting in increasing restrictions on the freedoms of its residents. Many pro-democracy activists have been arrested and convicted under various charges related to national security.
Recently, on Tuesday, May 28, former vice-chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Chow Hang-tung, and seven others were arrested in Hong Kong, accused of “incitement to subversion,” violating Article 23 of the Basic Law by posting on social media in anticipation of the sensitive date associated with the June 4th crackdown.
For over 30 years, a Catholic Mass commemorating the victims of the June 4th massacre had been held annually but was eventually cancelled in 2022 due to concerns of violating the new national security law in Hong Kong.
Nevertheless, history remains vividly remembered. Bishop Joseph Zen of the Hong Kong diocese wrote in a piece for a Catholic publication, mentioning the “event that cost lives in the capital 35 years ago,” expressing that the incident continues to be a source of pain and unresolved trauma.
An article by Bishop Zen titled “‘Seeking Him Among the Multitude’ Is This Time of Year…” published in the Catholic paper on May 30 alludes to the events of the Tiananmen Square massacre without explicitly stating it. He reflects on the annual period of sadness and hope intertwined with the memories of the tragic event, underscoring the enduring wounds that still require acknowledgment and healing.