After June 4th, the authorities have not lifted their stability maintenance measures against the Tiananmen Mothers and dissidents implicated in the incident. Sources familiar with the matter told this station that this is related to the overall scale of this year's June 4th commemorations, which has not decreased but increased. Hong Kong residents participating in the commemorations in the UK, Australia, and other countries expressed their commitment to continuing the candlelight celebrations in Victoria Park and demonstrating the strength of solidarity among Hong Kong residents overseas.
Beijing authorities' blockade of the Tiananmen Mothers' communications remained in place even after the June 4 anniversary. This station attempted to contact Tiananmen Mothers founder Zhang Xianling, spokesperson You Weijie, and several other members on Thursday (June 5), but their phones were either turned off or displayed as disconnected. You Weijie's WeChat account displayed an abnormality, indicating she was temporarily unable to receive messages.
Insider: Intensified surveillance of individuals associated with the June 4th Incident is related to the widespread mourning activities.
An insider revealed to our station that this year the authorities have stepped up their efforts to maintain stability in the aftermath of the June 4th Incident and extended the period of surveillance on people related to the incident, particularly targeting members of the Tiananmen Mothers and independent journalist Gao Yu, blocking their opportunities to contact the outside world and speak out before and after the incident. It is believed that this move is related to the nearly 100 June 4th commemorative events held around the world this year.
An insider said, "This year, the situation is particularly strict. Besides cities like the UK, US, and Canada that have previously commemorated the June 4th Incident, numerous cities in places like the Netherlands, Germany, and France are also holding commemorations. The scale of these commemorations is comparable to last year's 35th anniversary, with a significant portion of the activities being organized by Hong Kong residents living overseas. Therefore, the authorities are also keeping a close eye on those in mainland China connected to the June 4th Incident, preventing them from speaking publicly. However, due to the large number of individuals involved in maintaining stability related to the June 4th Incident, funding is a concern. Therefore, the authorities are only arranging for a small number of people to travel abroad this year. Those who haven't traveled abroad, like Pu Zhiqiang, have been placed on duty to reduce maintenance costs. It's estimated that surveillance won't be lifted until the weekend."
Hong Kong emigrants still remember the June 4th Incident: Carrying on the Victoria Park candlelight movement to rediscover Hong Kong identity
According to statistics, at least 10 commemorative events were held by Hong Kong immigrants in the UK on June 4th alone. Hundreds of people attended a June 4th memorial rally at the Chinese Embassy in London. Mung Siu-tat, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Labour Rights Watch and currently wanted by the Hong Kong government for $1 million, insisted in an interview with AFP that commemorating June 4th was not a crime.
Meng Zhaoda said, "Despite the regime's every effort to erase the truth, our insistence on remembering June 4th is not a crime. No matter how the regime questions us, it cannot change our unwavering resolve to commemorate the June 4th Incident. I firmly believe that when we successfully achieve democracy, the victims of the June 4th Incident will receive the justice they deserve in this democratic movement."
Many Hong Kong residents who immigrated to the UK have upheld the tradition of attending the annual June 4th commemoration. Mr. Zhou, a Hong Kong resident, told our station that this year marks his fourth year of commemorating the June 4th Incident in the UK, and he brings his children along every year. Mr. Zhou explained that before leaving Hong Kong, he had also taken his children to the Victoria Park gala. When he returned to the UK to continue the commemoration, he explained that Hong Kong could no longer hold commemorations, reminding them that democracy and freedom are hard-won. He also emphasized that Hong Kong residents should not Don't forget the collective memory of June 4th, and that living in a free land, they should make good use of their freedom.
Mr. Zhou said: "I've seen many people in Hong Kong, around Victoria Park and Causeway Bay, being taken away or put in police cars for doing ordinary things these days, like reading the Bible in Victoria Park, walking with their dogs, and performing performance art. Their bravery makes me feel that we have the freedom in the UK and should continue to mourn. Although the rally here only had 500 people, filling up about half of Victoria Park's football field, it might seem small. If there were hundreds of people mourning in many places at the same time, the number of people would be enough to fill many Victoria Park football fields. It would be another way to carry on the Victoria Park commemoration and reflect our collective memory and identity."
Hong Kong residents mourn outside the Macau Parliament for the June 4th Incident, hoping to raise awareness of the Chinese threat.
Five cities in Australia also held events commemorating June 4th this year. Exiled former Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Alvin Yeung attended a rally outside the Adelaide Parliament House. He said that while Hong Kong residents abroad mourn the June 4th incident, they can also connect with issues of concern to Hong Kong residents in Hong Kong and elsewhere, helping local communities understand that the China threat not only affects Hong Kong residents and Chinese people in Australia, but is also a matter of concern to them.
Alvin Yeung said, "Public education is a process. We hope that the memorial service outside the parliament will heighten the local government's awareness of the threat and infiltration from China. This year, more locals followed the event than last year, asking us about June 4th and the situation in Hong Kong. They wanted to know how many political prisoners there are in Hong Kong and the profound impact of Beijing's directives on Hong Kong. We also took the opportunity to tell them about the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China case and share the names of the political prisoners so that they could learn more."
The 36th anniversary of June 4th also garnered attention from overseas media, with numerous foreign outlets reporting on the event. The British Guardian, under the headline "The World Will Not Forget Tiananmen," reported on the 36th anniversary of the June 4th Incident, highlighting official statements from the US and Taiwan. The Associated Press noted that 36 years after the June 4th Incident, the Chinese government continues to attempt to erase public memory of the incident. Foreign Policy magazine published an article commemorating the 36th anniversary of June 4th by Yang Jianli, one of the leaders of the 1989 student movement. The article analyzed the reasons why China has not seen a second major pro-democracy movement since the 1989 movement.
