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#PoliticalSuppression #Regime
Authorities Ban Tiananmen Massacre Vigil for the Second Year in Hong Kong

Since 1990, Hongkongers have been organizing a candlelight vigil annually on June 4th to commemorate the victims of the Tiananmen Sqaure massacre and condemn the Chinese Communist Party for the brutal crackdown of pro-democracy citizens in 1989.

For the second year in a row, the Hong Kong police banned the June 4 vigil at Victoria Park, citing the pandemic as a reason. The authorities also banned the "lest we forget" protest planned on May 30, 2021.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the vigil convenor, pointed out that commemorating June 4 is part of Hongkongers' collective memory in the past 31 years. The Alliance said that they would file an appeal.

Meanwhile, the Secretary for Security John Ka-chiu Lee insisted that any person who join, promote and announce the two events can be sentenced to jail for up to 5 years.

Source: Stand News #May27
https://bit.ly/3bZIzeW

#June4 #TiananmenSquare #Massacre #FailedState #LetterofObjection #VictoriaPark #CandlelightVigil #CollectiveMemory
#Solidarity
Mime Pro-democrscy Demonstration in
#Nottingham, Hongkongers in #UK Preserve Memory of 8.31 Prince Edward Attack

2021 marks the second anniversary of the 8.31 Prince Edward Attack by the police in 2019. As Hong Kong is under the tight grip of authoritarian control, there are no large scale memorial activities planned.

Overseas Hongkongers told their fellow Hongkongers that they have not forgotten this date.

In UK on August 29, 2021, the group "Nottingham Stands With Hong Kong" presented a large-scale silent skit titled "We Are the Chosen One", recreating scene after scene of heart-rending moments from the 2019 Anti-ELAB protests.

Participants posted photos and videos of the skit on Facebook, noting that "there are things that can't be done in Hong Kong now. We understand. So leave it to us overseas people."

The group explained that they wanted to preserve the memory of the events; however, it was even more important that the international community knows what happened in Hong Kong. "It doesn't matter if you're in Hong Kong or overseas. As long as you're a true Hongkonger, our hearts will be connected, and we'll remember what we promised to each other. See you under the Pot!"

Video from Nottingham Stands With Hong Kong: https://www.facebook.com/NottsStandsWithHK/posts/585861336158559

Source: Stand News; 移英日記 facebook #Aug29

https://www.thestandnews.com/international/ab%E7%B4%80%E5%BF%B5-831-%E5%85%A9%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4-%E5%9C%A8%E8%8B%B1%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA%E8%88%89%E8%BE%A6%E9%BB%98%E5%8A%87%E8%A8%98%E4%BD%8F%E6%AD%B7%E5%8F%B2

#CollectiveMemory #831PrinceEdward #StandWithHongKong
#Performance #Remembrance
#Censorship #PoliticalSuppression
"Barbarious", "Mafia Tactic":
#PillarofShame Creator Shocked as the University of Hong Kong Demands Removal

Part 1/2

On October 7, 2021, the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) called for the removal of a statue commemorating the pro-democracy protesters killed during the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing, with a 6-day deadline.

The "Pillar of Shame" had been placed on long-term display inside the HKU campus since 1998 with support from the HKU Student Union.

Representing the university, US law firm Mayer Brown issued a letter demanding the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance (#HKASPDMC) – the organiser of Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil – to “immediately … make arrangements for the sculpture (the 8-meter-tall Pillar of Shame) to be removed from the university’s premises”.

“If you fail to remove the sculpture … it will be deemed abandoned,” the letter said, “if the Alliance fails to take it away, and the university will deal with the sculpture at such time and in such manner as it thinks fit without further notice.”

Danish artist #JensGalschiot, the statue's creator, was shocked at the demand, calling it “barbarous” and a “mafia” tactic. He told reporters that he remains the owner of the sculpture, and he has hired a lawyer to protect his property, which was only on loan to the Alliance.

“I hope that my ownership of the sculpture will be respected and that I will be able to transport the sculpture out of Hong Kong under orderly conditions and without it having suffered from any damage,” he said, adding that any damage would be the university’s responsibility.

Galschiot described the act as an attempt to erase China's collective historical memory. In a statement, he wrote in contempt, “China has made the Pillar of Shame ever taller and bigger in the eyes of the world.”

Read Part 2:
Law Firm Refuses to Represent Hong Kong's Top University
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31306

#TiananmenMassacre #Memorial #Art #CollectiveMemory

Sources: Stand News; InMediaHK; #Oct18

https://thestandnews.page.link/cWZQyyVUAc2Z255J7

https://thestandnews.page.link/ExESJ1tzktLMiEoR6

https://bit.ly/3vq26O4
US Law Firm Withdraws from Representing the University of Hong Kong Amid Outcry from Civic Groups and US Politicians

On behalf of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the law firm #MayerBrown issued a letter to Danish artist #JensGalschiot, demanding the removal of his famous sculpture #PillarofShame, which has beena symbol commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre and on display on campus since 2003, within six days.

The action prompted an outcry from pro-democracy and human rights groups, who expressed dismay that a US law firm was helping the Chinese regime to suppress the commemoration of the massacre.

28 civil society groups signed an open letter calling for Mayer Brown to withdraw from representing the university, citing the importance of safeguarding the firm’s “integrity in defending the right of freedom of expression”.

US Republican senators including Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham also condemned the firm.

Mayer Brown initially defended its representation of the university, saying the dispute was simply a real estate matter. But on October 15, 2021, the firm backed down, saying, "going forward, Mayer Brown will not be representing its longtime client in this matter.”

Following Mayer Brown's withdrawal, former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took to Facebook to denounce the firm as having been "infiltrated by foreign powers" and calling on all "Chinese" clients to withdraw their business.

The sculpture was still in the university campus as the deadline for its removal passed.

The debate over removal of the Pillar of Shame from #HKU was brought to a legislative meeting on October 18, 2021, when pro-Beijing legislator Luk Chung-hung, a representative from the pro-CCP Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, took it in a verbal inquiry.

Luk referred the sculpture as “trash” three times, calling it a "totem of anti-CCP sentiments" that has confused and poisoned youngsters in Hong Kong. He called for local police to assist the university in handling the case.

#TiananmenMassacre #Memorial #Art #CollectiveMemory

Sources: Stand News; InmediaHK; #Oct18

https://thestandnews.page.link/cWZQyyVUAc2Z255J7

https://thestandnews.page.link/ExESJ1tzktLMiEoR6

https://bit.ly/3vq26O4