In this issue: Global 37th June 4 Vigils | Welcomes HKETO Espionage Sentences | Event | HK Labour Rights Newsflash
Global Commemorations Mark 37th Anniversary of Tiananmen Crackdown
Demanding Immediate Release of Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung
On the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, members of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK, Taiwan, Canada, Belgium, and beyond joined local activist groups to hold candlelight vigils and rallies. The events paid tribute to the victims of the 1989 massacre while voicing solidarity with Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, the former chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance who remain imprisoned for steadfastly defending the truth of June 4th, demanding their immediate release alongside all other political prisoners.
Concurrently, a global petition launched by Amnesty International garnered over 50,000 signatures, sending a clear message to the Hong Kong authorities: commemorating June 4th is not a crime, and human rights and freedom must be defended.
HKLRM Welcomes HKETO Espionage Sentences Demands UK Action on Transnational Repression
Following the sentencing of HKETO manager Bill Yuen (8 years) and former UK Border Force officer Peter Wai (10 years) under the National Security Act 2023 for assisting Hong Kong’s intelligence service, we welcomed the “well-deserved” deterrent sentences.
Christopher Mung, the Executive Director of HKLRM said, “This case has shown that the HKETO was involved in transnational repression targeting Hong Kongers in the UK. Simply removing the names of those involved from official records does not erase HKETO’s responsibility for directing and facilitating these activities. As long as the HKETO continues to operate in its current form, it remains a source of concern for Hong Kong communities living in Britain.”
He urged the UK government to strip HKETO of its privileges, investigate the remaining individuals arrested, and establish stronger safeguards against foreign interference—including a dedicated anti-repression unit and a victims’ reporting hotline—to ensure safety on British soil.
Event
‘They cannot erase our memory’: Hundreds defy Beijing outside London embassy to mark Tiananmen anniversary
Around 200 activists and exiles gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in London on 4 June, lighting candles to mark the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Held under the shadow of an impending Hong Kong verdict against former leaders of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, the vigil became a defiant stand against Beijing’s attempt to rewrite the history.
With prominent dissidents like Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung facing prison, the crowd sent a clear message to the regime: the fight for memory has only just begun.
“The candlelight shining across the world tonight sends a clear message… They cannot erase our memory, nor can they extinguish the candlelight that reflects humanity’s conscience.“
— Christopher Mung, Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor
HK Labour Rights Newsflash
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- A Newspaper for Hong Kong: Five Years Since the Closure of Apple Daily <Read more>
- First Time in More Than 30 Years: Families of Tiananmen Victims Barred from Mourning their Loved Ones <Read more>