'Small Groups To Gather At Victoria Park For Vigil'

Organisers of the June 4 candlelight vigil say even though a mass gathering is banned at Victoria Park this year, people are welcome to join them at the venue to mark the 1989 massacre as they plan to go there in small groups.

The chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, Lee Cheuk-yan, said on Tuesday they'll go into the park in groups of eight and it's up to police to deal with them in whatever manner they chose.

Police have for the first time in three decades denied permission for the annual event held to remember those killed at Tiananmen Square in Beijing during the student uprising, citing coronavirus restrictions which prohibit groups of more than eight people gathering at any public place.

“We have not given up. We are going to Victoria Park,” said Lee. “But what we are doing now is that we will not focus on one point in Victoria Park.”

He said any individual who is determined to join them is welcome. “We still want to show the world and the people of Hong Kong that we are persistent in lighting a candle inside Victoria Park. So we will still do that,” said the former lawmaker.

Lee said they will be also asking people to commemorate the event across Hong Kong and plan to set up around 100 street booths.