Hong Kong Marks Tiananmen Amid Tension Over China’s Influence
- City’s Pro-democracy movement divided over legacy of Tiananmen
- Washington, Taiwan also mark anniversary of crackdown
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A vigil in Hong Kong to commemorate China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy supporters almost three decades ago was briefly disrupted by protesters demanding independence, underscoring the tensions dividing the city over how best to counter China’s growing control over the city.
The Saturday evening event was likely the world’s largest memorial in honor of hundreds of demonstrators killed in 1989 when Chinese troops crushed pro-democracy protests in Beijing. Still, many of Hong Kong’s biggest student groups are shunning the event, saying democracy activists should focus on defending Hong Kong and not changing China.