Amidst the authorities’ suppression, the candlelight vigil in memory of the Tiananmen Square massacre at Victoria Park in Hong Kong is no more. However, on Tuesday (June 4), many citizens still gathered at Victoria Park and nearby Causeway Bay to pay their respects. Despite heavy police presence, numerous individuals were taken away for expressing their condolences, with some arrested on suspicion of violating the newly enacted “incitement-related offenses” under Article 23 of the Basic Law.
On June 4, the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, police deployed a large number of officers, even using “Raptor” armored vehicles in the vicinity of Victoria Park and Causeway Bay to maintain security. They continued to monitor the actions of the media and citizens.
Well-known activist, widely known as “Granny Wong,” Wong Fengyao, was surrounded by a large number of police officers outside Causeway Bay MTR station around 3 p.m. on the 4th. She held flowers and chanted slogans such as “Reversal of June 4! The people will not forget!” and “Five demands, not one less,” before being surrounded and taken away by the police.
Since 2014, “Granny Wong” has frequently appeared at various social movement events in Hong Kong, either observing court trials to support protesters. She often waved the British flag at protest scenes, becoming a symbol. During the 2019 Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, she continued to live in Shenzhen. In August of the same year, after being taken away by the police at Tai Koo MTR station, she disappeared without any news. Later, she claimed to have been hospitalized due to injuries inflicted by the Hong Kong police and was subsequently charged with “provocation and troublemaking” in mainland China, where she was subjected to forced “patriotic education” in detention centers and prisons in Shenzhen, describing the conditions as “hell.”
After being detained for 30 days and placed under house arrest for nearly 14 months, “Granny Wong” was finally released and returned to Hong Kong. However, in 2022, she was imprisoned for 8 months for illegal assembly in 2019.
On the 4th, “Granny Wong” was arrested for chanting slogans in a public place, suspected of “incitement-related offenses.”
Additionally, the police stated that a 24-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman were deemed “suspicious” on the 4th evening in a public place on Yee Wo Street. During the police’s interception, the man was suspected of “attacking two police officers,” and both were arrested for “assaulting police officers” and “behaving improperly in a public place.”
The police also stated that a 23-year-old man was arrested on the 4th afternoon in a park on Hing Fat Street for allegedly “attacking two security guards” and was charged with “common assault.”
Furthermore, at the scene, three men and two women aged between 27 and 88 were detained on suspicion of “disturbing public order” and taken to the police station for further investigation, before being allowed to leave.
An 88-year-old man, known as “Uncle Wu” from “Mong Kok Pigeon Union,” displayed a banner outside the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay on the 4th afternoon, with the words, “Remember ’89! Mourn ’64! A sorrowful day! Generous years… Those years when Victoria Park was ablaze with candlelight! But now, people are absent! Candles extinguished!”
Shortly after displaying the banner, police warned him on-site, and he was subsequently taken away in a police vehicle.
The “Mong Kok Pigeon Union” emerged in 2014 after the Umbrella Movement. Members continued to gather on the streets of Mong Kok every night after the movement, persisting in advocating for genuine universal suffrage. However, in November 2021, Uncle Wu and three other members were arrested by the police on charges of inciting subversion.
Despite that, Uncle Wu remained steadfast. During the July 1st event in 2023, he departed from Causeway Bay, where the annual march begins, holding a banner that read, “Abolish the National Security Law, Implement the International Covenant on Human Rights, Release Political Prisoners, Pray for the Lord’s Eyes on Hong Kong,” before being surrounded and taken away by the police.
Moreover, a sports car with the license plate “US 8964” was intercepted by the police on the 4th and later towed away.
The owner of the car, Anthony Chiu, reported that he had been followed when he left a parking lot in Kowloon on the 4th and was intercepted by the police in the Eastern District corridor. The vehicle was later impounded for alleged illegal modifications.
In a Facebook group post, the owner lamented, “This may be the last year I come out, as everyone can guess the reason. Everyone, keep fighting.”
Checking the records, “US 8964” had been towed away during the “Tiananmen Square massacre” in 2022 and 2023. Last year, the police intercepted the car on the streets of Causeway Bay, citing “protruding license plate” and brake modifications as reasons for impoundment.
Embassies of countries including the UK, US, Australia, and Canada in Hong Kong all posted photos of candlelight vigils on their social media pages to commemorate the event.
The Consuls-General from the Netherlands, Germany, and the acting director of the EU Office in Hong Kong arrived at Victoria Park around 7:30 p.m. and stayed for about 10 minutes before leaving. When questioned by the media during their visit, they simply stated that they were “walking around.”
On the other hand, riot police guarded the bustling streets of Mong Kok. Activist Leung Yuk-lin, also known as “Long Hair,” was seen chanting Buddhist scriptures outside Langham Place mall around 7 p.m. on the 4th. She walked around the statue outside the mall, knelt on the ground in prayer, concluding around 8 p.m. Plainclothes officers then approached her for questioning.
She mentioned receiving a police notice not to shout slogans violating the National Security Law, admitting, “Maybe this isn’t Victoria Park; if it were, I might have already been taken away.”
Despite the double shadows cast by the enactment of Article 23 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, individuals from various backgrounds openly mourned “June 4” on their social platforms. Former district councilor Chu Kong-wai posted, saying, “The candlelight may be small, but it reflects the conscience in people’s hearts. Commemorating the victims of June 4 and the Tiananmen Mothers, whether on earth or in heaven,” and added, “Wishing everyone safety!” He shared a photo of rows of electronic candles and a sticker advocating for the Tiananmen Mothers’ movement, taken at his store, “RY Shop.”
He intended to hold a candlelight vigil at his store, “RY Shop,” in memory of June 4. However, around 2 p.m., over 10 plainclothes officers entered the store, chased away and registered the journalists present. After the police departure, the electronic candles, “Free June” postcards, and stickers displayed in the store all “disappeared.” Chu refused to disclose details to reporters, only stating that everything was “fine for now.”
In addition, former Civic Party leader and ex-member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, Stephen Shiu Kin-hin, posted a message at midnight, saying, “Just that phrase: ‘Don’t want to recall, but dare not forget,'” accompanied by a photo of candles.
Playwright and author of the stage drama “May 35th,” Celia Chong, also posted in the early hours, writing “Never forget June 4” in white font on a black background.
Former Legislative Council member Albert Ho Chun-yan shared the song “The Song of Foolish Acts” by mainland Chinese poet Meng Lang around 7 a.m. today, which included the lyrics, “Their blood quietly flows over us, and our blood must surge for them.” Ho added, “Don’t be afraid, we have each other” when sharing the post.