Tiananmen Square Anniversary

Tiananmen Square Anniversary

June 4

Each year thousands of people in Hong Kong, China, gather on June 4 to commemorate the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre with a candlelight vigil. On that same date in 1989, Chinese government tanks rolled into Beijing's Tiananmen Square killing hundreds of demonstrators calling for democratic reforms in China and injuring 10,000 more. The Chinese government has suppressed similar commemorative efforts in other Chinese cities, but since Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997, the tradition of the candlelight vigil took hold there. Since 1997 the Chinese government has discouraged the Hong Kong commemorations and pressured foreign news correspondents not to cover the yearly event. Organizers say the number of participants has been shrinking with each passing year. In the year 2002 about 45,000 people attended the vigil.

CONTACTS:
Beijing Municipal People's Government
2 Zhengyi Rd.
East Town District
Beijing City, 100744 China
86-10-6519-2335
www.ebeijing.gov.cn

Celebration day: Jun 4