Authorities in Hong Kong arrested several people on Saturday and banned gatherings held to memorialize the victims who lost their lives decades ago at the Tiananmen Square protests.
Police detained multiple people amid efforts by China to tame any attempt of publicly commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the conflict, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Saturday.
The Tiananmen demonstrations were held in Beijing on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire at student protesters, who were demanding more freedoms. It is estimated that anywhere from several hundred to several thousand people were killed during the protests.
Police searched one man for over 20 minutes before asking him to leave Saturday. "They're even afraid of an old person like me, I'm over 60," the man, only identified as Chan, told AFP. "Hong Kong is already dead."
Chinese authorities previously warned that those "participating in an unauthorized assembly" could face up to five years in prison.
Hong Kong and nearby Macao were the only places in China that were allowed to hold large commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen protests. However, that changed three years ago when China enforced a national security law to crack down on dissent after pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Police also arrested activist Yu Wai-pan, who is a member of the League of Social Democrats (LSD) party, according to AFP. Yu was later released without charges, according to the LSD.
A spokesperson for Hong Kong's LSD confirmed to Newsweek that Yu was arrested along with party Chairperson Chan Po-ying and member Dickson Chau Ka-Faat.
Meanwhile, another party member, Lau San-ching, was arrested for having a mask that read "mourn June 4" and for wearing a shirt that had a picture of the late Chinese democracy activist Li Wangyang, according to AFP.
Before LSD activist Yu was taken away, the three of them were released after being stopped and searched.
— Phoebe Kong (@phoebe_kongwy) June 4, 2022
Chan told us, 'The freedom to commemorate is gone. It's pathetic that even taking such a peaceful action silently is not tolerated.'https://t.co/wh0dJYmxEP pic.twitter.com/uBT3sY5S5m
Prior to Yu's arrest, two other party members, who were wearing white masks with a black cross across the mouth, were taken away by police within 30 seconds after standing silently at Causeway Bay. They were later released, but stopped then again.
"Yu Wai-pan was pushed behind the police cordon once showed up on site, and asked to leave Causeway Bay after the police conducted 'Stop and Search,'" the LSD spokesperson told Newsweek.
Yu was detained by police and "escorted" to a police van after approaching Victoria Park, which was a site that used to be packed with crowds who held annual candlelight vigils during Tiananmen anniversaries.
"Chaos broke out near Victoria Park, as police mishandled crowd control," the spokesperson said, adding that the LSD members were set to leave the area at the time.
"LSD was trying to make a silent protest on the date of 4th June, in commemoration of the 4th June event; to mourn the death of freedom of speech," the spokesperson added.
The park saw heavy police presence as authorities said that parts of it would be closed amid concerns that it might be used for "illegal activities," NPR reported.
"For 33 years it has always been peaceful, but today it's like (police) are facing a big enemy," Chan said to AFP. "The candlelight will not go out; the hearts of people will live on."
Update 06/09/22 at 3:30 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comments from Hong Kong's League of Social Democrats.
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