Another Way to Remember

"Do not forget June 4" banner from 2019

Just to make sure there are no mass gatherings to commemorate the victims of the June 4 massacre, Hong Kong's security bureau says offenders can face up to five years in prison for attending and one year for promoting it.

"The relevant meetings and procession are unauthorized assemblies. No one should take part in it, or advertise or publicize it, or else he or she may violate the law," a statement said on Saturday.

For 30 years HKers remembered in Victoria Park

It added that whether or not the event involved violence was not relevant: "If any anyone attempts to challenge the law, including the Prohibition on Group Gathering, Public Order Ordinance, Hong Kong National Security Law, etc, the Police will deal with it seriously in accordance with the law."

And if that wasn't enough, people can also face charges under social distancing rules after police banned the rally because of the pandemic.

"You can go down to the street and light a candle -- that cannot be in any way against the law," Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China vice-chair Chow Hang-tung said earlier this week. "We are asking Hong Kong people to light a candle at 8pm, wherever you are. It's a different way of organizing."

Today the alliance, which up until two years ago organized the yearly event at Victoria Park for 30 years, announced an alternative way to mark the June 4 anniversary by going to its Kowloon museum this week, which coincidentally has a new exhibition.

"We are very sad that we are not able to hold a peaceful and orderly candlelight vigil this year," said Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, a long-time member of the group who is now its secretary. "But that doesn't mean the alliance and Hong Kong citizens will not be able to carry on with their commemoration of June 4."

Laying flowers at the June 4 Museum

Mak Hoi-wah, the alliance's chairman, said the museum has set aside a corner for people to leave flowers. The museum will follow social-distancing measures which may mean longer wait times and Tsoi suggested people making bookings online. 

Tsoi added the event would be legal because it was being held on private property and therefore would not be subject to social-distancing measures of banning groups larger than four people. 

One newspaper columnist suggested that if China wanted to show the world that Hong Kong still had freedom of expression then it should allow the vigil to happen.

Interesting point, but we've gone this far down the road, it's too late to turn back...