32nd Anniversary of June 4th: Under the National Security Law, Hong Kong’s mourning is difficult, and candlelight in black may also be illegal

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the "June 4th" crackdown on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Since 1990, on June 4th each year, the Hong Kong Stake Association held a large candlelight evening in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to commemorate the "June 4th". The outside world is concerned about whether the implementation of the "National Security Law" in the Hong Kong area will make candlelight disappear.

Last month, the Hong Kong police refused to approve the Stake to hold the annual candlelight party at Victoria Park on June 4, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. And repeatedly appealed to the public not to participate in "any unapproved assembly." The Stake Association stated that it would not organize any June Fourth related activities on June 4 this year, but it called on citizens to "spontaneously mourn."

The Hong Kong police told BBC Chinese that they would deploy sufficient police at relevant locations on the day of June 4th to "enforce the law quickly and decisively." A police spokesman said: "The police urge members of the public not to participate in, promote or announce any unauthorized or prohibited group gatherings, and to avoid gatherings to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus."

According to Hong Kong media, including Radio Hong Kong, Ming Pao, Hong Kong 01, South China Morning Post, etc., quoting police sources, the authorities will deploy more than thousands of police officers throughout the city on June 4th. Beware. In Victoria Park alone, 3,000 police officers will be arranged to prevent people from gathering illegally to mourn the "June 4th" movement.

In the past, rallies in Victoria Park attracted tens of thousands of people to participate.

Memorial activities are restricted
Last year, the Hong Kong police also banned the "June 4th" gala on the grounds of the epidemic, but thousands of citizens ignored the ban and insisted on burning candles in Victoria Park. However, dozens of politicians were arrested and charged with inciting or participating in unauthorized assembly.

In addition, the "National Security Law" has been implemented for nearly one year, and the police have been rigorously prepared and repeatedly warned that participants may face five-year prison sentences. Not as good as in previous years.

The Stake Association stated that it would no longer initiate June 4 related activities on June 4 in the name of the organization, but individual members will mourn in their own name.

Zou Xingtong, vice chairman of the Stake Association, said that he would personally "light a candle where everyone can see it" at 8 o'clock that night. She said on a social networking site: “The government can prohibit gatherings in a venue, but cannot prohibit candlelights from lighting up in every corner of Hong Kong. The more deliberately extinguished, the candlelight will only burn wider and wider, and will eventually become a flame to destroy the dictatorship. What we have to do at this moment is to do our part to keep the candlelight in the cold, keep the bottom line of our conscience, and keep our remaining freedom."

Except that the party has been banned, the "June 4th Memorial Hall" operated by the Stake was reopened on May 30. Two days after it was reopened on May 30, the Stake was notified by the authorities that it did not have a "Public Entertainment Place License". The Stake announced that it would be temporarily closed. According to the laws of Hong Kong, holding an exhibition requires an application to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. The purpose of regulation is to ensure public safety and order in the premises, including buildings, health, sanitation, fire protection and ventilation equipment.

Mai Haihua, member of the Stake Standing Committee and chairman of the June 4th Memorial Management Committee, said in an interview with Radio Hong Kong that the memorial has been operating in this manner for the past 10 years, and the government has not had any enforcement actions. He is worried that this action will be selective enforcement. He expressed support The Federation will consider setting up an online museum to unify the data of the 1989 pro-democracy movement.

The June 4th Memorial Hall was accused of operating without a license and needed to suspend its closure.

The church in Hong Kong may become the only legal place to mourn the "June 4th" in Hong Kong that day. The Hong Kong Catholic Justice and Peace Commission announced earlier that it would hold a "Miss for the Dead" in seven churches in Hong Kong on the night of June 4. The committee statement did not clearly indicate that the Mass was related to the June Fourth Movement, but it stated in the statement that " For various reasons, we may not be able to speak clearly, but we must not Don't forget history...May the ruler of history pay attention to those who passed away in pursuit of truth in the turn of spring and summer."

Under the epidemic situation, Hong Kong still allows religious activities with many people to attend. The church will limit the number of participants to 30% of the church in accordance with Hong Kong's epidemic prevention regulations, that is, each church can accommodate 100 to 400 people. It is not yet known whether the police will be there to enforce the law that day.

On June 3, unidentified people have hung up protest banners outside the doors of these churches. On the banners outside the church in Kengkou, the words "worship in name, incitement to be real, split religion, full of blood" and "cult invades faith" are written on the banners outside the church in Hangkou to warn believers that they will be "tired" by commemorating the June Fourth Violation of National Security Law".

Low-key condolences
Hong Kong people’s way of mourning seems to have become more low-key. Analysts pointed out that this reflects the fear of Hong Kong people and they dare not go to the streets to mourn for political reasons. Some netizens are also worried that this reflects that the way Hong Kong people express their political views has become more and more similar to that of mainland China.

Some pro-democratic "yellow shops" and district councilors distributed candles to the people, urging the public to take photos of burning candles on the street under legal circumstances.

Some Hong Kong netizens initiated an action called "Zhou Jieying" (Cantonese, meaning "street shooting"). They took pictures of scenes with numbers "64" or "89" on the streets and uploaded them to social media.

Some netizens also urged citizens to write "June 4th" on the light switch, so that every time the light is turned off, it reminds of the scene of "turning off the light" at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, which is also a way of mourning.