Tiananmen Slayings Recalled Thousands Rally In Hong Kong Despite China’s Takeover July 1

Defying their future ruler’s appeal to put the past to rest, tens of thousands of people squeezed into a Hong Kong park Wednesday to commemorate - perhaps for the last time - the anniversary of China’s attack on prodemocracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.

In Beijing, plainclothes police kept close watch on the square as tourists posed for pictures, but there was no sign of protest at the site where the army gunned down democracy protesters on June 4, 1989. Hundreds, if not thousands, were killed.

Candles lit up the darkness Wednesday night in Hong Kong’s annual vigil for the slain demonstrators, a memorial that came only 27 days before China recovers Hong Kong from Britain. China has given no guarantee such rallies can be repeated, and many in the crowd felt this may be their last chance to honor the dead.

The peaceful protest was a striking act of conscience by a public often accused of just being interested in making money and not annoying China.

Demonstrators cut across many divisions - youngsters in blue jeans, old women in buttoned-up smocks, prosperous men in ties, blue-collar workers and families with children. All clutched white candles.

Organizers claimed 55,000 people took part, well above past rallies. Police refused to give an estimate.

In Tokyo, several Chinese protesters led by Wu’er Kaixi, a prominent exiled dissident, scuffled with police outside the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. Police blocked a driver who tried to ram a row of police vehicles. Two arrests were reported.

Hong Kong democrats say they will organize a rally every year until China reverses its verdict that the Tiananmen movement was “counter-revolutionary,” and declares the crackdown a mistake.