Hong Kong Judge Orders the Tiananmen Massacre Be Referred to as ‘June 4th Incident’

Read More

A member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKA), which the Hong Kong government caused to disband, is in court for refusing a National Security Office request, made in 2021, to hand over information. When former HKA vice-chairman Chow Hang-tung used the words “Tiananmen massacre” and “killing” when speaking in court, the judge banned the words from being used and asked that the massacre be referred to as the “June 4th Incident.”

During the trial, that began on Oct. 26, Chow Hang-tung repeatedly said “Tiananmen Massacre” and “killing” when questioning prosecution witnesses. Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen, designated national security law judge, ordered that those words not be used, and said “not to bring politics to court,” and said that everyone knows what’s being talked about and how you describe it doesn’t matter. “The ‘massacre’ cannot be downgraded to an ‘incident,’” said Chow. She also pointed out that “killing” is a neutral term. “If ‘killing’ is not used, how can I describe it?”

As requested by the judge, Chow continued the questioning using the words “June-Fourth Incident.”

Backbone of HKA Arrested as an Alleged ‘Foreign Agent’

On Oct. 28, Chow questioned the necessity for the “Notice Requesting Information” issued by the National Security Department (NSD), pointing out that the personal information of the chairman and executive committee members of the HKA, as well as financial expenditures and other information can be obtained from the company registry or other public information arenas.

The original explanation of the “Refusal to give police info re investigation into the HKA” is that on Aug. 25, 2021, the NSD sent a letter to the HKA  claiming that the HKA was a “foreign agent,” and requesting handover of certain internal information.

The HKA committee delivered a letter to the Wanchai police headquarters expressing its refusal to submit information to the NSD, reiterating that the Alliance is not a foreign agent, and criticizing the NSD of the police for making legal errors and acting without factual information. On Sept. 8 of the same year, the NSD of the police arrested four members of the HKA Standing Committee, including Vice Chairman Chow Hang-tung, Leung Kam-wai, Tang Ngok-kwan, and Chan To-wai. Another Standing Committee member Tsui Hon-kwong was arrested the next day.

‘Instructed by Heroic Spirit of Those Killed on Tiananmen Square’

HKA Standing Committee member Tsui Hon-kwong once filed a judicial review on the NSD’s request for the HKA information. Tsui told the media that the five operational goals of the alliance were in the interests of China, and that HKA does not receive foreign money, is not instructed by foreign countries, and does not act for foreign interests. He also stated that he had served as a member of the HKA standing committee for 31 years and was instructed by the heroic spirit of those killed on Tiananmen Square.

The HKA was formed during the 1989 democracy movement. On May 20, 1989, the CCP authorities declared martial law in Beijing, triggering the march of millions of Hong Kong residents to protest on the streets on May 21 in solidarity with the mainland’s democracy movement.

The HKA for Supporting Patriotic Democratic Movements in China was established during the million people’s march. The five-point plan of the group was to “release the dissidents,” “rehabilitate the 1989 pro-democracy movement,” “demand accountability for the 4 June massacre,” “end the one-party dictatorship” and “build a democratic China.”

HKA Commemorated June 4th Massacre for 31 years, Stopped by National Security Law

On June 4, 1989, the Chinese regime launched a bloody attack on protestors on Tiananmen Square using tanks and armed soldiers. The HKA participated in the rescue operations, and rescued a large number of student leaders and pro-democracy activists. The HKA has held a candlelight vigil in Victoria Park every year for more than 30 years, which has left a deep impression on Hong Kong and the international community.

However, since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong government has begun  suppressing the June 4 commemoration activities. The Hong Kong government banned gatherings on June 4th in Victoria Park, in 2020 and 2021, using the COVID-19 pandemic as justification. Twenty-four pro-democracy activists were sentenced to 4 to 14 months in prison for lighting candles in Victoria Park on June 4, 2020. On the eve of June 4, 2021, Chow issued a document calling on the public to commemorate June 4th for which she was imprisoned. She was convicted and sentenced again this year, and will be jailed for 22 months in total, including the 2021 sentence.

The Hong Kong government also arrested members of the Alliance, including chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, the two vice-chairs Tonyee Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho Chun-yan, and members of the Standing Committee, on various charges of ” inciting subversion of state power.”

The CCP Is Removing ‘A Thorn in Its Side’

Shi Shan, a current affairs commentator, said on his YouTube show “Shi Shan Viewpoint” that the alliance has been a thorn in the CCP’s side for more than 30 years. The CCP has never wanted Hong Kong people to care about what happens in the mainland, and the HKA has done a lot of work to help the Chinese democracy movement, it has always been an organization that the CCP wants to eradicate.