bc magazine

Never Forget – Tian’anmen Square, 4 June 1989

Today we remember those who died in and around Tian’anmen Square in June 1989.

We 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 the Ching Ming Festival be banned as well?

Images: copyright Simon Durrant, bc magazine

Tiananmen Square 35th Anniversary

Today we 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?

Tian’anmen Square Vigil – 4 June, 2022

Today we honour and remember those who died in and around Tian’anmen Square in 1989.

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?

HKPPA News Photo of the Year: The Pillar of Shame

The Hong Kong Press Photographers Association (HKPPA) has announced the winner of its annual “Focus on the Frontline” photo competition.

The 2021 winner is HK01‘s Liu Ngan Hung for his photo “The Pillar of Shame” depicting workers removing the Pillar of Shame from HKU. The statue remembers those murdered when the People’s Liberation Army opened fire on democracy protesters in Tian’anmen Square on 4 June 1989.

The “Focus On The Frontline” photo contest began in 1993 and has become one of the most prestigious awards for local photojournalists. Through the competition, the HKPPA looks for photographs that are important to Hong Kong’s history and which combine the elements of art and journalism.

Commenting on the winner “The jury thinks ‘The Pillar of Shame’ reflects the Hong Kong people’s sustained concern over June 4th, which is also a yearning and worries for the country’s democratisation. As workers removed the pillar in the twilight, it symbolises the freedoms of thought and expression once cherished in Hong Kong being dispossessed. The lighting condition and framing of the photograph gives it a baroque aesthetic, bringing tension to the work. The posture of workers lowering their heads to avoid being photographed and the darkness that envelopes the action are metaphorical, constructing a meaning that is more than the sum of all the visual elements in the image.”

Ming Pao’s Lam Oi Yee image of people drinking on a street, metres away from a fatal car accident came second in the Spot News category.

Real-name Registration for SIM Cards Commences 1 March

People buying new SIM cards, including SIM service plan (SSP) services and pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards, after 1 March 2022 will need to complete real-name registration before activation.

Existing PPS card users are required to complete real-name registration with respective telecommunications operators on or before 23 February 2023. PPS cards without real-name registration will be deactivated after this deadline.

Individual users are required to provide their name, date of birth, Hong Kong identity (HKID) card number and an HKID card copy for registration. While corporate users are required to provide business registration information and designate a responsible person, with the personal information of that person provided.

The Real-name Registration Programme, which commenced 1 September 2021, is applicable to all SIM cards issued by telecommunications operators of Hong Kong to be used for local person-to-person communications (including voice, data and/or SMS services).

Tiananmen Square Massacre Online Museum Blocked in Hong Kong

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

Tiananmen Square Vigil Across Hong Kong – 4 June, 2021

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!

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Regret’s Eponymous Hardcore Debut

New hardcore band Regret have released an eponymous 7-track debut EP on cassette and through bandcamp.

A veteran of the local music scene singer Riz also plays guitar in Dagger, fronted the massively popular King Ly Chee and runs the popular Unite Asia hardcore music website.

Commenting on his new band and their debut EP Riz said “We were just looking to play something that was more straight-ahead hardcore punk whose simplicity and directness is better suited to capture the intense emotions we all have as HongKongers living through the tumultuous past couple of years.”

Regret‘s seven tracks, including We Exist, the band’s debut single released in March, are about political turmoil, minority rights, police brutality and censorship.

“The past couple of years have been heavy on the people of Hong Kong, but then you’re seeing similar issues pop up in Myanmar, Thailand, Chile, USA, and everywhere else,” commented Riz in an interview.

“Though you may find your own situation so utterly hopeless, seeing others fighting the same causes brings a sense of camaraderie. So instead of letting all of these dark, chaotic, uncertain emotions eat us up inside, we’re getting it out through this music.”

Regret: Riz, Kuro, Egas