Hong Kongers struggle to raise their voices on Tiananmen Square anniversary

Pro-democracy political activist Chan Po-ying uses a megaphone to call passers-by in a busy shopping district of Hong Kong, with filming of two uniformed police officers describing the 1989 massacre of protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square as “their own”. way to celebrate”. ,

Chan was among half a dozen people from the League of Social Democrats, one of the region’s few remaining pro-democracy political parties, at the small booth last weekend. His stand, a far cry from the thousands-strong rallies he used to command, reflects the limited space for dissent in Hong Kong, which was once home to a vibrant protest culture.

Hong Kong was known for hosting the largest Tiananmen commemoration event in Chinese territory, with tens of thousands of people attending candlelight vigils. But in 2020, following pro-democracy protests and the introduction of sweeping national security legislation by Beijing, discontent has been stamped out, and while all pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted, this year’s June 4 anniversary is hardly noticed Will go

The disappearance of almost any form of protest from the city since the security law was imposed shows how freedom of expression, which was once a hallmark of the Asian financial hub’s success alongside the rule of law, is under severe attack.

“The right to demonstrations, the right to freedom of expression of various views from the government, which were guaranteed by the Basic Law (Hong Kong’s mini-constitution) . . . I think it’s completely gone,” in Washington. said Willie Lam, an expert on Chinese politics at the Jamestown Foundation think-tank.

Over the past three years, more than 60 civil society organizations have joined, including trade unions, pro-democracy media outlets and major opposition political parties. In early May police took possession of the “Pillar of Shame”, a statue commemorating Tiananmen victims that had once been displayed at a university. Books related to the genocide have been removed from public libraries. The city’s Catholic Diocese confirmed to the Financial Times that it would not hold a memorial mass for the second year in a row.

During a rare visit in April, Xia Baolong, Beijing’s top bureaucrat overseeing Hong Kong, said protests were “not the only way to express dissent”.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday whether it was legal for people to mourn the massacre in private, city leader John Lee said: “Everybody should act according to the law and think about what they do, So be prepared to face it.” consequences.”

He said that the police will take strict action.

Last year, officers arrested six people near Victoria Park after the traditional vigil site was closed, including a veterans activist who wore a mask emblazoned with the words “Mourning June 4”. Some people held electric candles and mobile phone lights outside the park.

Two activists said that many activists have been asked by police officers about their plans for June 4 this year.

Anyone protesting with more than 30 people will have to apply for police permission. Of the 26 public processions ordered by police in May, more than 70 percent were for fundraising religious events. None were organized by political parties.

In March, police asked the organizer of a small protest against land reclamation to limit the number of participants to 100 and to make them all wear number tags. All permits now include a clause prohibiting “activities prejudicial to the interests of national security”.

When two trade union activists applied to protest on May 1, Labor Day, Joe Wong, a trade unionist, was taken away by the police, according to people close to him. Wong withdrew the application in protest. Why didn’t he share? Following his emergence, Denny To of the Cleaning Industry Service Workers union said that Wong had suffered an “emotional breakdown”.

Wong has been told that his bank account with the Bank of China will be closed because he failed to pass its risk assessment, according to Tu. The bank did not respond to a request for comment.

The League of Social Democrats said that the police pressured members not to participate in a women’s rights protest on 8 March. Despite initially being given permission, the Hong Kong Women’s Workers Union canceled the event. Police told reporters that “violent groups” may have disrupted the march.

In response to questions from the FT about recent planned marches, questioning of activists and filming of the League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong police said they would “implement appropriate measures to regulate public events in accordance with the laws”. “, including “broad”. risk assessment”. He added that the force would “take appropriate action as per the actual circumstances and handle policing work as per the laws”.

“We will not see any large-scale protests and assemblies in the near future – such as the annual 1 July protests (on the anniversary of the handover from Britain to China) and 4 June vigils.” “Now there are many more barriers . . . and it is especially difficult to protest if[the applicant]is a politically sensitive person.

Similar to other pro-democracy political groups and unions, the League of Social Democrats has seen a reduction in volunteer numbers and fundraising. Chan’s husband, Leung Kwok-hung, also known as “Long Hair”, stands trial in a landmark security case along with 46 other opposition activists. HSBC has frozen the party’s bank account, according to Dixon Chow, a member of the group who showed the FT a letter received from the bank.

An HSBC spokesperson said the bank “regularly reviews customers’ account activities and relationships as part of ongoing customer diligence requirements”.

“Based on these reviews, HSBC may decide that we will no longer be able to maintain banking relationships with certain customers,” the bank said.

“Where can we get our money? Will the next institution have to take on additional legal risks? The pressure from authorities and non-governmental organizations is mounting,” Chou said.

Analysts said the outlook for Hong Kong’s once thriving protest movement is bleak. At the League of Social Democrats stand in Causeway Bay, most people ignored Chan’s sermons to mark the anniversary. A pro-Beijing group is expected to hold a “hometown market carnival” in Victoria Park on June 4.

Despite the difficult environment, Chow and To said they were committed to campaigning on social issues such as labor rights. “We still have to continue our work,” Chou said. “There is still meaning to our existence.”

Pro-democracy political activist Chan Po-ying uses a megaphone to call passers-by in a busy shopping district of Hong Kong, with filming of two uniformed police officers describing the 1989 massacre of protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square as “their own”. way to celebrate”. ,

Chan was among half a dozen people from the League of Social Democrats, one of the region’s few remaining pro-democracy political parties, at the small booth last weekend. His stand, a far cry from the thousands-strong rallies he used to command, reflects the limited space for dissent in Hong Kong, which was once home to a vibrant protest culture.

Hong Kong was known for hosting the largest Tiananmen commemoration event in Chinese territory, with tens of thousands of people attending candlelight vigils. But in 2020, following pro-democracy protests and the introduction of sweeping national security legislation by Beijing, discontent has been stamped out, and while all pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted, this year’s June 4 anniversary is hardly noticed Will go

The disappearance of almost any form of protest from the city since the security law was imposed shows how freedom of expression, which was once a hallmark of the Asian financial hub’s success alongside the rule of law, is under severe attack.

“The right to demonstrations, the right to freedom of expression of various views from the government, which were guaranteed by the Basic Law (Hong Kong’s mini-constitution) . . . I think it’s completely gone,” in Washington. said Willie Lam, an expert on Chinese politics at the Jamestown Foundation think-tank.

Over the past three years, more than 60 civil society organizations have joined, including trade unions, pro-democracy media outlets and major opposition political parties. In early May police took possession of the “Pillar of Shame”, a statue commemorating Tiananmen victims that had once been displayed at a university. Books related to the genocide have been removed from public libraries. The city’s Catholic Diocese confirmed to the Financial Times that it would not hold a memorial mass for the second year in a row.

During a rare visit in April, Xia Baolong, Beijing’s top bureaucrat overseeing Hong Kong, said protests were “not the only way to express dissent”.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday whether it was legal for people to mourn the massacre in private, city leader John Lee said: “Everybody should act according to the law and think about what they do, So be prepared to face it.” consequences.”

He said that the police will take strict action.

Last year, officers arrested six people near Victoria Park after the traditional vigil site was closed, including a veterans activist who wore a mask emblazoned with the words “Mourning June 4”. Some people held electric candles and mobile phone lights outside the park.

Two activists said that many activists have been asked by police officers about their plans for June 4 this year.

Anyone protesting with more than 30 people will have to apply for police permission. Of the 26 public processions ordered by police in May, more than 70 percent were for fundraising religious events. None were organized by political parties.

In March, police asked the organizer of a small protest against land reclamation to limit the number of participants to 100 and to make them all wear number tags. All permits now include a clause prohibiting “activities prejudicial to the interests of national security”.

When two trade union activists applied to protest on May 1, Labor Day, Joe Wong, a trade unionist, was taken away by the police, according to people close to him. Wong withdrew the application in protest. Why didn’t he share? Following his emergence, Denny To of the Cleaning Industry Service Workers union said that Wong had suffered an “emotional breakdown”.

Wong has been told that his bank account with the Bank of China will be closed because he failed to pass its risk assessment, according to Tu. The bank did not respond to a request for comment.

The League of Social Democrats said that the police pressured members not to participate in a women’s rights protest on 8 March. Despite initially being given permission, the Hong Kong Women’s Workers Union canceled the event. Police told reporters that “violent groups” may have disrupted the march.

In response to questions from the FT about recent planned marches, questioning of activists and filming of the League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong police said they would “implement appropriate measures to regulate public events in accordance with the laws”. “, including “broad”. risk assessment”. He added that the force would “take appropriate action as per the actual circumstances and handle policing work as per the laws”.

“We will not see any large-scale protests and assemblies in the near future – such as the annual 1 July protests (on the anniversary of the handover from Britain to China) and 4 June vigils.” “Now there are many more barriers . . . and it is especially difficult to protest if[the applicant]is a politically sensitive person.

Similar to other pro-democracy political groups and unions, the League of Social Democrats has seen a reduction in volunteer numbers and fundraising. Chan’s husband, Leung Kwok-hung, also known as “Long Hair”, stands trial in a landmark security case along with 46 other opposition activists. HSBC has frozen the party’s bank account, according to Dixon Chow, a member of the group who showed the FT a letter received from the bank.

An HSBC spokesperson said the bank “regularly reviews customers’ account activities and relationships as part of ongoing customer diligence requirements”.

“Based on these reviews, HSBC may decide that we will no longer be able to maintain banking relationships with certain customers,” the bank said.

“Where can we get our money? Will the next institution have to take on additional legal risks? The pressure from authorities and non-governmental organizations is mounting,” Chou said.

Analysts said the outlook for Hong Kong’s once thriving protest movement is bleak. At the League of Social Democrats stand in Causeway Bay, most people ignored Chan’s sermons to mark the anniversary. A pro-Beijing group is expected to hold a “hometown market carnival” in Victoria Park on June 4.

Despite the difficult environment, Chow and To said they were committed to campaigning on social issues such as labor rights. “We still have to continue our work,” Chou said. “There is still meaning to our existence.”