Arrests, tight security in Hong Kong ahead of Tiananmen’s 34th anniversary

by Jesse Pang and Ben Blanchard

HONG KONG/TAIPEI (Reuters) – Hong Kong police said on Sunday they had arrested eight people as authorities stepped up security ahead of the 34th anniversary of the deadly crackdown on the Tiananmen movement.

Prior to the ban, major commemorations were held annually in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Police said eight people were arrested after “displaying objects with seditious inscriptions, shouting slogans and committing unlawful acts” near Victoria Park.

Video seen by Reuters showed artist Sanmu Chan shouting, “Remember June 4th. Hong Kong people, don’t be afraid,” as he was being taken away by law enforcement.

Hong Kong activists say the police crackdown is part of a wider campaign by China to bring the city back into its fold.

Beijing promised to maintain the status quo with respect to the special regime, expressed by the formula “one country, two systems”, which the former British colony has enjoyed since its return to China in 1997.

The public television channel announced that the security system deployed in Hong Kong is particularly important this year, involving more than 6,000 police officers.

Commemorations will be held on Sunday in the United States, Europe and Asia.

(Reporting by James Pomfret; French edition by Camille Renaud)