June 4 Vigil Organisers Expect Rebound In Numbers

Organisers of the candle light vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre say they are expecting the turnout this year to surpass those over the past four years.

The turnout had declined after the 2014 Occupy protests as some student unions decided to stay away from the annual vigil at Victoria Park. Some groups held their own events elsewhere to mark the anniversary.

The Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China predicted that more than 135,000 people would attend the event this time to mark the 30th anniversary of Beijing's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.

The group said this year's vigil is particularly important for the fight against totalitarianism, as looming changes to fugitive laws could see Hong Kong people sent to the mainland for trial.

The alliance is also holding a forum on the extradition proposals at Southorn Playground on May 26, before they set off on a march to Beijing's liaison office in Western to protest over the massacre.

The alliance's chairman, Albert Ho, said people who want to see the vindication of the 1989 pro-democracy movement should also convey their opposition to the fugitive law changes, which he said would harm people's basic rights and freedoms.

"I think many Hong Kong people will seize every opportunity to come out ... not only for the people in China ... but also to seize the same opportunity to voice our concern to fight for better protection of our basic human rights and freedoms," Ho said.