Hong Kong Police Stop 2 Artists on Tiananmen's 37th Anniversary as 2020 Vigil Ban Endures
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Hong Kong Police Stop 2 Artists on Tiananmen's 37th Anniversary as 2020 Vigil Ban Endures
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Summary
Plainclothes officers in Causeway Bay stopped performance artist Sanmu Chen after he tried to tie a 6.4-meter red thread to a street sign, then searched his bag and let him go.
Chen said the thread mourned victims of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown; later Wednesday, police also intercepted artist Chan Mei-tung and escorted her away after she held up a question-mark balloon.
Victoria Park, which once drew tens of thousands for annual June 4 candlelight vigils, has been off-limits for such commemorations since the gatherings were banned in 2020.
Since Beijing imposed a national security law that year, Hong Kong has arrested activists, shuttered outspoken media and disbanded civil groups, including the vigil organizer whose former leaders still await verdicts in a subversion case.
As Hong Kong suppresses Tiananmen memories, can overseas archives and vigils truly keep the history alive?
Under Hong Kong’s new security laws, is silent personal remembrance the only form of commemoration left?
Why replace Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil with a patriotic carnival instead of simply leaving the park empty?
Hong Kong’s 2026 Crackdown: 37 Years After Tiananmen, Public Remembrance Extinguished
Overview
On June 3, 2026, as Hong Kong neared the Tiananmen Square anniversary, artist Sanmu Chen’s quiet act of remembrance was quickly stopped by police, showing the significant risks for anyone marking June 4. This swift intervention highlights the authorities’ zero-tolerance approach to dissent and reflects a broader strategy to suppress political expression and tighten Beijing’s control. Victoria Park, once the main site for large public vigils, now stands under heavy police presence with no commemorative gatherings allowed. These actions signal a continued erosion of Hong Kong’s freedoms and a profound transformation of its public spaces and civil liberties.