Hong Kong Remembers : June 4th Candlelight Vigil Mass Memorial Event at Victoria Park

June 4th, 20:00, an estimated 150000 Hong Kong residents gathered at Causeway Bay’s Victoria Park to commemorate the Tiananmen Square 1989 tragic event. My sister and I were there as well.

I was honestly surprised just how openly the issue is discussed and protested in Hong Kong. My university had various huge posters to explain the event and held a few sessions showing detailed documentaries about the event. I believe some of the new mainland students were quite taken by surprise on that. Huge banners and posters were up all across Hong Kong and the turn-up for the event was beyond anything I imagined possible.

The way to Causeway Bay was not easy, as the MTRs and buses were packed with people making their way to the event.

It’s hard to relay the feeling of what it’s like being there and seeing the Hong Kong masses. It was overwhelming and extremely touching. I couldn’t but feel the deepest sympathy for the locals and their cause. While Taiwan maintains some sort of balanced status-quo and enjoys no controls to freedom of speech, the Hong Kong people are faced with a much more complicated reality. I truly admire their courage and dedication.

The local police, in case you were wondering, were extremely helpful and friendly, making sure the masses are able to make their way to the park effortlessly.

The local protestors on the main road leading to the park carried out very creative protests.

Although I’m a foreigner and don’t understand a word of Cantonese, I was very emotional during the candlelight vigil. The following videos might help explain a bit of why it was so powerful :

This made me proud of the people I live with. An experience to remember.