Today we honour and remember those who died in and around Tian’anmen Square in 1989.
We take time to light a candle in their memory! Not to make a political statement but because honouring and remembering those who have died is an important and integral part of Hong Kong, Chinese and yes English culture.
That some would threaten violence towards those who wish to remember the dead says far more about them than us… What next, will Ching Ming Festival be banned as well?
Singaporean artist Ming Poon, aka Ming Apur, likes as he puts it to use choreography as a “tool to interrogate, disrupt and re-organise the social and political relationality of the body in time and space.”
Poon’s latest work is Project June 4th a 24-hour online commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests that looks to use dance to speak out against state censorship of peaceful dissent, criticism and the erasure and rewriting of history. For as Poon says “Once we forget, history repeats itself and the oppressors become emboldened”.
On 4 June 1989 the peaceful mass student protests in Tiananmen Square were ended by military force. Although more than 30 years have passed, the Chinese government still suppresses any mention or acknowledgement of the incident.
On 5 June a single man stood against a column of tanks… Project 4th June commemorates those who were murdered, the movement and choreography of Tank Man represents as Poon puts it “the potential that lies within ordinary persons to stop the machines of violence and oppression. It is also a call-out to stand up against injustice, no matter how small we think we are and how insurmountable we think the task is.”
6 dancers will take turns performing Tank Man throughout the 24-hour commemoration. Each will attempt to interpret the choreography in a way that expresses their individual thoughts and relationship to the Tiananmen Square incident, state censorship and the fight for human rights and democracy.
The 6 dancers are:
1. Pink Tank: “Watch out, the world is not behind you.”
2. Tank Ghost: “Of Ghosts and Shells”
3. Tank Zheng: “No Tank On Rainbow”
4. Tank Sexy: “The Days Without Cigarettes / 沒有煙抽的日子“
5. Tank Plant: “Planting the Reality”
6. Tank Critique Critique: “Which Tanks Do You Need To Stand In Front Of?”
If you want to watch, join or participate (see the video above for the choreography) in the commemoration Poon has an event etiquette to help make it safe for everyone. Keep your identity, as well as others’ anonymous!
Project June 4th
Date: 4 June, 2022 (
Venue: live stream on Zoom and Youtube
Tickets: Free
More info: www.mingapur.com
live stream on Zoom and Youtube
The physical version of the June 4th Museum was shut down by HK Police a couple of months ago for allegedly operating without the correct licences.
To preserve the history of Beijing’s bloody crackdown on peaceful Tiananmen Square protesters in 1989, a group of people created an online museum at 8964museum.com.
Today the website is inaccessible via several of Hong Kong’s telecom providers, the first obvious example of China’s ‘great firewall’ making it’s appearance locally.
8964museum.com is an archive and historical record of the key events and figures in the peaceful student-led demonstrations that spread across China in 1989. Protests that ended in a hail of People Liberation Army bullets – leaving thousands, of civilians dead and injured.
With all references to the Tiananmen Square massacre censored in mainland China. The annual Victoria Park candlelight vigils to remember those killed in the crackdown were seen by many HongKongers as a symbol of the city’s promised freedoms and autonomy under the one country two systems.
images copyright of their owners
Standing united across Hong Kong and the world, millions of people lit a candle to remember the dead and remind those who might have forgotten the truth about the CCP.
In banning the annual memorial vigil in Victoria Park to remember those murdered in and around Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989 the HK police publicised the massacre to the world.
Never Forget!
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-t5VKNwV
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-2t7NSpf
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-5FbBTd8
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-RVC83mv
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-6j8fHL2
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-4gDGgxw
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-2HK24Tt
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210604-Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-Victoria-Park/i-rvrwbgL
A spokesman for the Security Bureau made a [this] statement today (May 29) that the Police have prohibited and objected to a public meeting and procession [32 Anniversary Tiananmen Square Vigil to remember those murdered by Chinese troops ] to be held on May 30 and a public meeting to be held on June 4.
The Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions has, after hearing, confirmed the Police’s decisions. The relevant meetings and procession are unauthorised assemblies. No one should take part in it, or advertise or publicise it, or else he or she may violate the law.
According to section 17A of the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245), taking part in an unauthorised assembly is liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment; advertising or publicising an unauthorised assembly is liable to a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment. In addition, taking part in the events may be in breach of relevant offences under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) (i.e. Prohibition on Group Gathering).
The court’s recent judgments in two cases relating to unauthorised assemblies (the public meetings and processions on August 18 and August 31, 2019) indicate that taking part in an unauthorised assembly, whether or not it involves violence, is in violation of the law. The persons concerned were eventually sentenced to imprisonment of varying terms.
The Security Bureau reminds the public that they should not take part, advertise or publicise any unauthorised assembly. If anyone attempts to challenge the law, including the Prohibition on Group Gathering, Public Order Ordinance, Hong Kong National Security Law, etc., the Police will deal with it seriously in accordance with the law.
Quite surprisingly the 31st Anniversary vigil of the CCP’s massacre of its own citizens in Tiananmen Square for daring to question the party passed peacefully.
After a year of violence and aggression, the CCP militia formerly known as the HK Police showed a bit of common sense and avoided what could have been a second bloody 4 June.
Wearing blue uniforms, instead of riot green while keeping riot shields and weapons hidden, they turned a blind eye to the tens of thousands of HongKongers who congregated at Victoria Park to stand together and remember those murdered in 1989.
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2020/Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-4-June-2020-Victoria-Park/i-pPhJ4Dt
The mood was as sombre as it’s been in several years, with many of those gathering wondering if they were going to be victims of the next CCP massacre…
As the time of the vigil passed and the police hadn’t attacked, the strains of Glory to Hong Kong began to reverberate across the park and a sea of raised hands reminded Beijing – 5 Demands, Not 1 Less.
With the CCP again perverting the Basic Law and ignoring the signed international treaties that define One Country 2 Systems with the forced implementation of a ‘National Security’ law. While their glove puppets in Legco reinterpret the rules to pass the ‘Respect the National Anthem’ law – HongKongers stood united in remembrance and spirit.
HongKongers understand, they like China. They just don’t trust, like or respect the CCP. The March of the Volunteers is not China’s anthem it’s the CCPs. The National Security law is about keeping the CCP and its corrupt sycophants in power not about protecting China.
Standing united across Hong Kong and the world last night, millions of people remembered and reminded those who might have forgotten the truth about the CCP.
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2020/Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-4-June-2020-Victoria-Park/i-9Rmzgd5
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2020/Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-4-June-2020-Victoria-Park/i-BSp47bm
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2020/Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-4-June-2020-Victoria-Park/i-cMvnwv8
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2020/Tiananmen-Square-Vigil-4-June-2020-Victoria-Park/i-9c4PX7C
Project June 4th
Date: 4 June, 2022 (noon CET)
Venue: live stream on Zoom and Youtube
Tickets: Free
More info: www.mingapur.com
live stream on Zoom and Youtube
