On the fifth anniversary of the violent police attack on citizens at Prince Edward Station in Hong Kong on “8.31”, the police tightened security with multiple checkpoints and arrests made at the scene, with some citizens being taken away for bowing with flowers. Meanwhile, overseas Hong Kongers continue to commemorate the event, with events held in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds, and Manchester.
In Birmingham, UK, around 140 people attended a commemoration event for the “8.31 Incident”, mourning the victims who sacrificed for Hong Kong’s freedom.
Two Hong Konger groups in the UK – “Birmingham HongKongers” and “West Midlands Hongkonger Support CIC” – organized a gathering titled “831 Assembly Persuading You to Unmask” at Victoria Square in Birmingham city center. They played the banned anthem “Glory to Hong Kong” and raised the “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” flag.
Former district councilor Au Man-chun, who is now in exile in the UK, described the “8.31 Incident” as an indelible pain for Hong Kong people, criticizing the Hong Kong government for refusing to investigate the incident and prohibiting commemorative activities, as an attempt to erase the rumors of “31st August deaths”. He urged Hong Kongers in Birmingham to continue speaking out, remember the tragic history, seek the truth, and garner more attention from local communities in the UK.
Some participants at the event wore masks, describing the attendees as being under threat, with many fearing arrest upon returning to Hong Kong and for the safety of their family members in Hong Kong. A survey conducted in July by “UK Welcome Refugees”, the Leaf Rong Humanitarian Assistance Fund and “West Midlands Hongkonger Support CIC” revealed that the primary concern for Hong Kongers in the UK is personal safety, with fear still looming over the dispersed Hong Kong community.
Rex Lee, spokesperson for the Labour Party’s East Asia and Southeast Asia branch, emphasized the party’s strong opposition to the national security law in Hong Kong and promised not to allow such laws to be enforced in the UK. The Labour Party pledged to take decisive action and consider targeted sanctions against individuals and groups involved in persecuting Hong Kong people.
He also mentioned the party’s plans to comprehensively review UK-China relations, scrutinize all Chinese entities operating in the UK to ensure they do not support cross-border repression, closely monitor Confucius Institutes and Chinese embassies to ensure compliance with UK laws and international norms.
Another guest, former Yau Tsim Mong District councilor Lam Siu-bun, called for the establishment of a credible independent investigation commission and the public release of CCTV footage from that night to reveal the truth.
Robert, a spokesperson at the event, stated that over the five years since the “8.31 Incident”, Hong Kongers have faced increasing fear and despair, even while living in the UK. He noted that although the liberation of Hong Kong may seem distant, the presence of around 140 Hong Kongers at the gathering signifies their unwavering commitment to their cause.
Volunteer Frankie, who distributed bilingual leaflets at the event, highlighted the ongoing fear following the implementation of the national security law and Article 23 in Hong Kong, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness even while in the UK.
This article has been translated and rewritten based on the original news article provided.