Security tight in China and Hong Kong on Tiananmen anniversary

HONG KONG: Police in Hong Kong on Tuesday detained ‘several people’, whilst Chinese authorities restricted access to Beij­ing’s famous ‘Tiananmen Square’, on the 35th anniversary of the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Cities in Taiwan and elsewhere have marked the date.

In China-ruled Hong Kong, police officers tightened security around downtown ‘Victoria Park’, where large June 4 candlelight vigils had been held annually, before ‘tougher’ national security laws took effect (in recent years).

Police took away several individuals in vans, including 68-year-old Alexandra Wong, after she held up a bouquet of flowers and shouted, “The people will not forget!” Others who lit up their mobile phones in the park at night were escorted away and searched by police.

Over the past week, eight people have been arres­ted for sedition under a new national security law, including prominent activist ‘Chow Hang-tung’, stemming from what media says were online posts linked to the 4 of June.

“There are still forces that attempt to undermine Hong Kong’s stability and security,” Hong Kong lea­der, ‘John Lee’ told reporters (without mentioning June 4 specifically).

In Taiwan, several hundred protesters held a vigil on ‘Liberty Square’ in downtown Taipei, holding up small LED candles and laying flowers before an altar with the numbers 89 64.