Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said Monday’s annual vigil and march to commemorate the Tiananmen Massacre demonstrates that Hong Kong respects and upholds freedom.
Organisers said 115,000 attended the Victoria Park commemoration, whilst the police said 17,000 attended at its peak. After the event, several political parties marched to the China Liaison Office in Sai Wan and held a protest outside the front gate.
“What is most necessary for me to say is that Hong Kong respects freedom of speech, and respects individuals’ expression of their stances,” Lam said ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.
“Last night, with the coordination of the police, there was a rally and a march – I believe it reflects Hong Kong’s characteristics of respecting and upholding freedom.”
The Tiananmen massacre occurred on June 4, 1989 ending months of student-led demonstrations in China. It is estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people died when the People’s Liberation Army was deployed to crack down on protesters in Beijing. Information on the incident is censored in mainland China.
Our coverage this week:
- Exclusive, unseen shots from Tiananmen 1989 – Part 1 of 2.
- Exclusive, unseen shots from Tiananmen 1989 – Part 1 of 2.
- 115,000 attend Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Massacre vigil, organisers say.
- Tiananmen vigil continues tradition of condemning China’s ‘one-party dictatorship’.
- Absence of student groups divides opinion at Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Massacre vigil.
- Vigil shows that Hong Kong respects and upholds freedom, says Chief Exec.
- Dozens attend ‘alternative’ English-language vigil, marking 29 years since massacre.
- Sister of late Tiananmen activist Li Wangyang thanks HK for demanding justice.
- ¥64.89 transactions banned on June 4 anniversary, as US demands death toll.
- Families of Tiananmen victims urge ‘truth, compensation, and accountability.
- ‘Remember the tragic loss’: US, China tussle over Tiananmen anniversary.
