Hong Kong Police Briefly Detain Performance Artist on Eve of Tiananmen Square Anniversary

On June 3, 2024, Hong Kong police briefly detained performance artist Sanmu Chen in Causeway Bay, a vibrant shopping district, on the eve of the 35th anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown. This incident highlights the shrinking freedom of expression in the Chinese territory.

Chen was taken away by police after miming the action of drinking in front of a police van and appearing to draw or write something in the air. Police claimed Chen was causing chaos at the scene, but he was later released unconditionally after an investigation.

The detention of Sanmu Chen highlights the ongoing erosion of freedom of expression in Hong Kong, which has significant implications for the city's autonomy and democratic values. If left unchecked, this trend could lead to further restrictions on civil liberties and a decline in Hong Kong's status as a champion of democracy in the region.

This is not the first time Chen has been detained; he was also arrested last year in the same area for chanting 'Hong Kongers, do not be afraid. Don't forget tomorrow is June 4.' The annual vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park, which drew thousands of people to remember the Tiananmen Square crackdown, has vanished since the imposition of the national security law in 2020.

The national security law has been criticized for eroding the freedoms promised to Hong Kong for 50 years after its return to Chinese rule in 1997. Three former leaders of the vigil organizing group, including activist Chow Hang-tung, have been charged with subversion under the law.

On the same day as Chen's detention, police arrested an eighth person on suspicion of alleged sedition over their social media posts about commemorating the Tiananmen crackdown. Several pro-democracy activists reported that police had inquired about their plans for June 4, with some being asked not to visit 'sensitive places.'

A Christian newspaper responded to the current situation by leaving its front page mostly blank, while Hong Kong's Roman Catholic cardinal, Stephen Chow, wrote an article calling for forgiveness and reconciliation. 'Perhaps it is through forgiveness that all parties can escape the finger-pointing and the painful mindset of 'I will never forgive,'' Chow wrote.

The Tiananmen Square crackdown on June 4, 1989, resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths when government troops opened fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters. For decades, Hong Kong's Victoria Park hosted an annual vigil to mourn the victims, but the event has vanished under the shadow of the national security law.

Critics argue that the law has drastically eroded the freedoms promised to Hong Kong for 50 years after its return to Chinese rule in 1997. The disappearance of the vigil and the detention of individuals like Chen highlight the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Hong Kong police detained performance artist Sanmu Chen on June 3, 2024, for miming drinking and writing in the air.
• Chen was released unconditionally, but the incident highlights shrinking freedom of expression in Hong Kong.
• The national security law imposed in 2020 has eroded Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic values.
• Several pro-democracy activists were arrested or questioned by police ahead of the Tiananmen Square anniversary.
• The annual vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park has vanished since the national security law was imposed.