Tiananmen Square: Hong Kong police detain activists on anniversary of massacre

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Despite stringent restrictions, the spirit of democracy and the fight for freedom reverberated in Hong Kong as authorities detained several pro-democracy activists commemorating the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident. Among those detained were high-profile individuals, including the ‘Grandma Wong’ and the head of the League of Social Democrats party, Chan Po Ying.

Over the years, Hong Kong, operating under its ‘one country, two systems’ policy, had been the only Chinese city where Tiananmen Square commemorations were permitted. This unique position highlighted Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status, a testament to the city’s distinctiveness within the Chinese framework. However, public commemorations have been banned since 2020 under the new national security law.

Despite these developments, the resilient spirit of Hong Kong endures. The global community has taken up the mantle, holding candlelight vigils in cities around the world in solidarity with Hong Kong, further spotlighting the city’s enduring influence on the global stage.

As a pro-Beijing event replaced the annual commemorations at Victoria Park this year, many look forward to a future where the spirit of freedom and the call for justice can once again be publicly acknowledged in the city that has long stood as a beacon of democracy in the region.