Tiananmen anniversary: ​​US hails the brave 33 years on as Hong Kong warns against gatherings | China

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The victims of Chinas bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square 33 years ago will not be forgotten, the US government has said, as Hong Kong warned against unlawful gatherings.

Saturday marks the 33rd anniversary of Chinese troops opening fire to end the student-led unrest in and around the square. Chinese authorities ban any public commemoration of the event on the mainland.

In a statement on Saturday, Asia time, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, termed the crackdown a brutal assault.

The efforts of these brave individuals will not be forgotten. Each year, we honor and remember those who stood up for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

While many are no longer able to speak up themselves, we and many around the world continue to stand up on their behalf and support their peaceful efforts to promote democracy and the rights of individuals, Blinken said.

To the people of China and to those who continue to stand against injustice and seek freedom, we will not forget June 4.

Speaking on Thursday at a routine news conference in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated the governments standard line about those events.

The Chinese government has long ago come to a clear conclusion about the political incident that happened in late 1980s, he said.

Tiananmen vigils were set to be held globally on Saturday, with rights group Amnesty International coordinating candlelit ones in 20 cities to demand justice and show solidarity for Hong Kong.

Later on Saturday, activists were to gather in Taiwans capital of Taipei to commemorate the anniversary, likely the only part of the Chinese-speaking world where such a public event will take place, although in past years there have been large-scale commemorations in Chinese -run Hong Kong.

Taiwans China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council on Friday called on Beijing to address the historical facts of the Tiananmen Square incident with sincerity, begin on political reforms [and] implement democratic governance.

In Hong Kong, police last year blocked off a park to prevent people gathering to commemorate the anniversary and arrested the planned vigils organiser.

Hong Kong police said late on Friday that part of Victoria Park, where the commemorations have happened in previous years, would be closed, and with the Covid-19 pandemic continuing people should not take part in unauthorized assemblies and prohibited gatherings.

Police will deploy adequate manpower in relevant locations tomorrow and take resolute action to enforce the law, including making arrests, police added. The public should not defy the law.

Blinken said: Today, the struggle for democracy and freedom continues to echo in Hong Kong, where the annual vigil to commemorate the massacre in Tiananmen Square was banned by the PRC [China] and Hong Kong authorities in an attempt to suppress the memories of that day.

China imposed a tough new national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 punishing acts of subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

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