“External forces” including the United States should uphold international law and stop “futile political manipulation” over Hong Kong to contain China, a ministry spokesperson said.
Restrictions on speech and public protests in the administrative region of Hong Kong have stifled what were once mass candlelight vigils marking the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown, leaving cities like Taipei, London, New York and Berlin to keep the memory of Jun 4 alive.
Hundreds of police conducted stop-and-search operations and deployed armoured vehicles near Victoria Park, the previous site of yearly vigils.
Hong Kong activists say such police action is part of a broader campaign by China to crush dissent in the city that was promised continued freedoms for 50 years under a “one country, two systems” model when former colonial ruler Britain handed it back in 1997.
The United States Consulate posted a photograph on Facebook on Sunday of candles lined up in all of its windows. “In memory,” it wrote.
The Canadian consulate said on its Facebook that it joined the people of Hong Kong and others around the world in “remembering the violent crackdown against unarmed and peaceful citizens” on Jun 4, 1989. It said Canada stood with all those “prevented from upholding their rights, including the right to assemble peacefully”.
Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK said that all 23 people detained on Sunday for breaching peace and public order offences were not arrested and were later released.