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June 4 vigil in Hong Kong
Hong KongLaw and Crime

Hong Kong police banned Tiananmen vigil ‘by default’, barrister accused of incitement tells court

  • Chow Hang-tung, 36, is on trial accused of inciting others to attend this year’s banned June 4 vigil in Victoria Park
  • Representing herself in court, Chow accuses police of rehashing the 2020 banning order, which was issued on public health grounds, for this year’s event

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Chow Hang-tung, 36, is on trial accused of inciting others to knowingly take part in an unauthorised assembly. Photo: Handout
Brian Wong
A former leader of the group behind Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square vigil accused police of making a predetermined decision to ban this year’s event rather than basing it on the latest public health advice, as she stood trial on Wednesday for allegedly inciting others to breach the order.
Barrister Chow Hang-tung, vice-chairwoman of the now disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, stirred up members of the public into defying the prohibition – issued on coronavirus-related grounds – against gathering at Victoria Park for the June 4 candlelight ceremony, according to prosecutors.
After an independent appeal panel upheld the police decision, Chow published three articles in the Ming Pao newspaper and on her social media accounts calling on others to join her in commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Chow, 36, denied a count of inciting others to knowingly take part in an unauthorised assembly before Magistrate Amy Chan Wai-mun, saying she was being prosecuted for political reasons. She faces up to two years in jail if convicted.

The candlelight vigil has been held annually in Victoria Park without interruption since 1990, until last year when police first prohibited the event on public health grounds relating to the Covid-19 crisis. They reached the same conclusion ahead of the 2021 vigil.

West Kowloon Court heard that Superintendent Simon Cheung Wing-kan on May 27 issued a notice of prohibition against this year’s event, citing health risks during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions upheld Cheung’s decision two days later.

On May 29, Chow posted on Facebook and Twitter that she would nonetheless “honour this 32-year promise and light up the candle in a place where everyone can see”.

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