The Hong Kong police, citing the persevering with risk of the coronavirus, rejected a request to carry a march and candlelight vigil to recollect these killed within the 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen protest, occasion organizers mentioned on Thursday.
Professional-democracy activists mentioned that they imagine the authorities used the pandemic as a pretext to dam the politically delicate occasions, scheduled for Could 30 and June 4, that are the one large-scale Tiananmen memorial observances held on Chinese language soil. The organizers mentioned that they’d attraction the choice.
The police additionally blocked the march and vigil final yr due to the pandemic. Thousands of people gathered anyway at Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island. 4 activists, together with Joshua Wong, got jail sentences starting from 4 months to 10 months for participating in the unauthorized assembly. One other 20 individuals are scheduled to seem in court docket on associated fees subsequent month.
Hong Kong has saved coronavirus circumstances comparatively low, with simply 24 infections reported over the previous two weeks within the metropolis of seven.5 million individuals. Public occasions together with Artwork Basel {and professional} soccer matches have lately been held with some restrictions, akin to diminished capacities, contact registration and required use of face masks.
