Hong Kong: Tens of thousands defy ban to attend Tiananmen vigil

2020-06-04 19:13:56

Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Hong Kong have defied a ban to stage a mass vigil for the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing. Officers erected barricades around the city's Victoria Park, but some pro-democracy protesters knocked them down and held candlelit gatherings. Police banned the vigil this year, citing coronavirus measures. Earlier, lawmakers approved a controversial bill making it a crime to insult China's national anthem. Ahead of the vote, two legislators were taken away by security guards after throwing a foul-smelling liquid on to the chamber floor. They said they were protesting against China's growing control over Hong Kong, and also marking the Tiananmen Square anniversary. The latest events come as the Chinese government is drawing up a new security law for Hong Kong, a move that threatens to raise tensions even further.