33 Years Later Remembering June 4

The Goddess of Democracy at UBC

On the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, Hong Kong police were out in force around Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, making sure nobody was doing anything to commemorate June 4th.

Meanwhile the pitches were empty, even though there were claims someone had booked them. 

Police officers in Causeway Bay near Victoria Park

For many, the thought of possibly being arrested near Victoria Park was not worth it, or would rather mark the sad anniversary at home with candles. The ability to congregate as a group in the tens of thousands and focus on the victims was something people did for 30 years in Hong Kong, but no more.

An activist, Lau Shan-ching, was arrested for wearing a mask and T-shirt that said: "Commemorate June 4th Victoria Park 2022" for allegedly uttering inciting words and participating in unauthorised assembly. Others weren't even allowed to leave flowers at the park. 

One woman was detained briefly for wearing a T-shirt that had these words written on the back: "You cannot fight against the future." She was warned the message may constitute illegal assembly. 

Right...

US consulate had candles on the windowsills

University campuses in Hong Kong have also taken down any kind of memorials to the event, from the Pillar of Shame at the University of Hong Kong, the Goddess of Democracy at Chinese University, slogans written on walls and sidewalks have all been painted over.

This is the way Beijing wants it to be -- whitewashed from history and forgotten while fewer people come out publicly to mark the anniversary.

Beijing even asked consulates not to commemorate the event, but many defied the request and lit candles that were placed on window sills for people to see. It was a peaceful yet firm act of resistance.

This afternoon I went to the University of British Columbia to see the Goddess of Democracy statue which is near Brock Hall. I was heartened to see some flowers already placed there, and some white candles had already burned out, but another one was lit.

Activist Lau Shan-ching was arrested by police

There were also some umbrellas placed there in reference to the 2019 protests.

One on side of the base of the statue was a plaque with the headline, "The Empty Chair". It read:

"Liu Xiaobo was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." As he was imprisoned in China at the time, his award was presented to an empty chair at the ceremony in Oslo.

"In 2017, LIU became the second Nobel Peace Prize laureate to die in government custody."

A man in black wearing a yellow mask handed me a piece of paper with lyrics to songs that would have been sung at the candlelight vigil at Victoria Park.

I explained I had just recently moved back. "I did too, I moved here a year ago," he said.

Flowers and umbrellas by statue

He was by himself and seemed happy to sing songs, including Glory to Hong Kong in English.

Most people walked by him, a few people stopped to take pictures.

Just over a year ago the June 4 Museum in Hong Kong was abruptly shut down. It was not unexpected but it was still shocking to see happen. I had just visited the day before because it was the next logical place to commemorate the incident after Victoria Park was shut down.

But now the place to visit is the Hong Kong News-Expo near PMQ above Sheung Wan, where there are copies of newspaper front pages of June 4.

It's ironic considering it's a government building and funded with taxpayer money...