Hundreds of pro-democracy advocates marched through the city centre yesterday to protest for democracy in China, ahead of the upcoming 27th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.
Democratic Party members march through Central with a banner reading, “Vindicate June 4th, fight for democracy, simple requests”. Photo: Adrian Lo
Crowds at the annual march were noticeably thinner than in recent years, following the much-publicised withdrawal of the Hong Kong Federation of Students from the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, which organises the event.
Last month, a spokesperson for the federation said some members disagreed with the Alliance’s goal to “build a democratic China”, instead preferring to focus on fighting for democracy in the city, SCMP reports.
Emily Lau and fellow Democratic Party members during a march for democracy in China. Photo: Adrian Lo
Organisers estimated a turnout of 1,500 protesters, while police sources placed the number of participants at 780 during the height of the march.
Prominent Legislative Council members like Democratic Party chairperson Emily Lau, League of Social Democrats founder “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, former Alliance chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, and Civic Party leader Alan Leong were all in attendance.
A woman holds up a sign calling for the vindication of June 4th. Photo: Adrian Lo
As protesters marched from Wan Chai’s Southorn Playground to the China Liaison Office in Sai Wan, the phrase which appeared on the most banners was “vindicate June 4th”, a slogan used to demand the Chinese government acknowledge and take responsibility for the Tiananmen crackdown. Other popular signs read, “Never forget”, and “End to one-party rule”.
A man protests the detention of Zeng Feiyang. Photo: Adrian Lo
Some demonstrators called for the release of Chinese labour activist Zeng Feiyang, who has been detained in Guangdong since early December.
Photo: Adrian Lo
Others carried yellow umbrellas, a symbol which has become synonymous with universal suffrage in Hong Kong and the 79-day Occupy protests of 2014.
A participant stands in front of a sign which reads, “6.4 shook the world for seven weeks”. Photo: Adrian Lo
Longtime march organiser and legislative councillor Lee Cheuk-yan. Photo: Adrian Lo
Lee Cheuk-yan, former chairman of the Alliance and longtime legislative councillor, spoke solemnly while wearing a plaque around his neck which read, “Charges: subversion of state power”, a charge under which human rights campaigners are often imprisoned in mainland China.
Members of the League of Social Democrats carried a coffin to commemorate the dead who were killed during the 1989 protests bearing the word “奠”, which means respect. Traditionally, large signs reading “奠” are placed at Chinese funerals and memorial services to denote respect and commemoration for the deceased.
Photo: Adrian Lo
Speaking to the SCMP, Richard Tsoi, vice-chairman of the Alliance, said he wasn’t worried about fluctuating turnout at the protest, as the June 4th vigil in Victoria Park would be a better measure of public support for the cause.
Photos: Adrian Lo
Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co
Reader Interactions