Since the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China, chief executives have usually avoided discussing the sensitive issue of the anniversary of the June 4 crackdown in Beijing in 1989. Occasionally, they have left the city on the day of the anniversary. This year, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying went to Shanghai – something remarked on by unionist lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan.
Lee asked Leung early on Tuesday if his Shanghai visit was to “escape the June 4 issue”.
Leung replied that he planned to address the opening of the Urban Land Institute’s Asia-Pacific summit. The chief executive said he had promised to attend the summit as early as last year. Leung also plans to meet Shanghai’s Communist Party secretary Han Zheng and return home on Wednesday.
Before attending an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning, Leung was again questioned about the Tiananmen Square crackdown. A reporter asked whether telling the central government that Hong Kong people want the Beijing students who participated in the 1989 demonstrations to be acknowledged.
Leung again replied that he was going to Shanghai to attend two events. He did not discuss the June 4 anniversary, but instead said his government’s housing policy was progressing well.
Hong Kong’s two previous chief executives mostly stayed in Hong Kong during previous anniversaries of the June 4 crackdown – although they usually avoided commenting directly on the subject.
