HONG KONG/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM/CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Commemorations of those who died in the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demontrations

Record ID: 336209

  • Title: HONG KONG/FRANCE/UNITED KINGDOM/CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Commemorations of those who died in the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demontrations
  • Date: 4th June 1990
  • Summary: VICTORIA PARK, HONG KONG/PARIS, FRANCE/LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM/PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA (JUNE 4,1990) VICTORIA PARK, HONG KONG: (VISNEWS) (NIGHT SHOTS) GV PEOPLE HOLDING CANDLES IN VICTORIA PARK SV'S PAN STUDENTS LAY WREATH AT MONUMENT (3 SHOTS) CU, SV, TGV PEOPLE WITH LIT CANDLES (3 SHOTS) PARIS, FRANCE: SV, CU CHILD PAYS FLOWERS BESIDE WREATH FROM DANIELLE MITTERA
  • Embargoed: 19th June 1990 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VICTORIA PARK, HONG KONG/PARIS, FRANCE/LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM/PRAGUE, CZECHOSLAVAKIA
  • City:
  • Country: Czech Republic Hong Kong United Kingdom Czechoslovakia France
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA68O273J7IU8D3MTANT7LQI9L1
  • Story Text: The anniversary of the killings in China's Tiananmen Square last year was commemorated around the world on Monday (June 4).

    In Hong Kong's Victoria Park at least 100,000 gathered for a candlelit vigil in memory of those who died. The protestors called for an end to China's hardline leadership and listened to videotaped messages by student leaders who fled to the west.

    A demonstration was also held in Paris, now home for some of the Chinese student leaders. A group, including a small number of hunger strikers, gathered outside the Chinese embassy. The student uprising in China a year ago began with hunger strikes.

    Pro-democracy supporters also laid wreaths of white flowers. Prominent among the floral tributes was a bouquet from Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of French President Francois Mitterrand.

    In London, leading Chinese student dissident Li Lu risked arrest when he and actor David Yip, along with Marie Staunton of Amnesty International, entered the Chinese embassy to deliver a wreath. The visitors, and their flowers, were refused admission.

    Yip said Li Lu was a brave man as he was one of the most wanted people in China.

    After the protest Lu said that China was not gaining any support for its actions in the international community.

    In Prague's Wenceslas Square, where Czechoslavia's own democratic reforms were born last November, local pop groups staged a rock concert in memory of those who died. Later in the evening, students and tourists held a candle vigil in the town square.
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