HK pro-democracy activist held ahead Tiananmen anniversary

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Hong Kong police have arrested pro-democracy activist Chow Hang Tung on the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Ms Chow is vice chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance which organises annual vigils for victims of Beijing’s deadly crackdown on democracy protesters.

She has been arrested for promoting unauthorised assembly, reports BBC.

It comes as Hong Kong has banned the vigil for the second year running, citing coronavirus restrictions.

Hong Kong and Macau are the only places in Chinese territory where people can commemorate the deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

But this year, authorities in Macau also banned the vigil for the second year in a row, saying it would violate local criminal laws.

However, Ms Chow continued to call on residents to commemorate the anniversary in their own ways.

“Turn on the lights wherever you are – whether on your phone, candles or electronic candles,” she had posted on Facebook a day before her arrest.