The annual march to Beijing’s liaison office comes as youngsters say they want to focus on localism and protecting Hong Kong’s identity
JEFFIE.LAM@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Sunday, 29 May, 2016, 5:15pm
Protesters call on Beijing to vindicate the 1989 pro-democracy movement. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hundreds of Hongkongers took to the streets on Sunday afternoon urging Beijing to admit the wrongdoing in the Tiananmen Square crackdown 27 years ago.
The protest came amid a growing sentiment of detachment from politics on the mainland among youngsters, who favour localism and protecting Hong Kong’s identity.
‘Pimps in a brothel’: Hong Kong student leaders insult organisers of June 4 vigil
The student unions of the city’s universities have decided to boycott the annual candlelight vigil in Victoria Park next Saturday as they disagree with one of the organisers’ key demands – “to build a democratic China”.
Protesters young and old said they decided to join the march from Wan Chai to Beijing’s liaison office in Western on Sunday because they wanted to show the public they did not side with the students’ views.
“The vigil might be a bit ritualistic but we still need to continue it as we have to show China and the world there is still a group of people who have not forgotten what happened [in Tiananmen Square],” said Mr Lee, a 48-year-old accountant who joined the rally to back the Beijing students 27 years ago.
“We should continue the fight until Beijing admits responsibility for the crackdown.”
Lui Chun-yin, a social work student at Shue Yan University, also acknowledged the importance of remembering the crackdown.
“The June 4 incident is not just a matter concerning China but one of the most brutal crackdowns in recent years. Hong Kong should not steer clear of it,” he said.
Shue Yan University’s student-run editorial board had earlier attacked the march’s organisers, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, calling its leaders “pimps and bawds in a brothel”.
Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, a core member of the alliance, said they would not give up the fight even if it failed to bear fruit.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1958596/hongkongers-take-streets-remember-june-1989-crackdown-pro
