Hong Kong Police Halt 2 Tiananmen Tribute Artists as June 4 Vigil Site Hosts Carnival
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 4
Hong Kong Police Halt 2 Tiananmen Tribute Artists as June 4 Vigil Site Hosts Carnival
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 4
Summary
Two artists were stopped in Causeway Bay on Wednesday as they tried to mark the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, with police searching Sanmu Chen and escorting Chan Mei-tung away.
Chen said his 6.4-meter red thread symbolized June 4 and was meant to express condolences; police said officers approached a man and woman lingering in the area and acted according to law.
The interventions came near Victoria Park, where annual candlelight vigils once drew tens of thousands before authorities banned them in 2020 and later replaced the site with a yearly pro-China carnival.
That shift reflects Hong Kong's broader crackdown under the national security law: organizers were arrested, civil groups disbanded and two former vigil leaders now await a verdict that could bring up to 10 years in prison.
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.