- Title: HONG KONG: VIOLENCE MARKS END OF PRO-DEMOCRACY VIGIL
- Date: 4th June 1997
- Summary: HONG KONG (JUNE 4-5, 1997) (RTV) JUNE 4, 1997 1. GV/LV/SLV ZOOM OUT PEOPLE AT MEMORIAL RALLY WITH CANDLES, SINGING, GATHERED AROUND "PILLAR OF SHAME" (3 SHOTS) 0.20 JUNE 5, 1997 2. SLV STUDENTS LINKING HANDS TO FORM HUMAN BARRICADES IN HONG KONG UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 0.24 3. SLV STUDENTS IN CHAIN, PUSHING POLICE AWAY 0.39 4. SLV TRUCK MOVING INTO CAMPUS GATE / POLICE AROUND TRUCK,PUSHING STUDENTS BACK (2 SHOTS) 1.04 5. SLV TRUCK ADVANCING/SCUFFLES/POLICE TRYING TO CLIMB UP TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF TRUCK (4 SHOTS) 1.45 6. SLV STUDENTS AND POLICE IN FRONT OF TRUCK/STUDENT ADDRESSING CROWD ON LOUDHAILER (2 SHOTS) 1.59 7. SLV TRUCK MOVING INTO CAMPUS WITH "PILLAR OF SHAME" ON BACK/STUDENTS CHANTING 2.21 8. MV STUDENTS MARCHING/CHEERING, STUDENTS CHANTING "LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY" (CANTONESE) 2.24 9. SCU "PILLAR OF SHAME" BEING MOVED ONTO GROUND 2.32 10. SCU SCULPTOR JANS GALSCHIOT SAYING "I THINK THE STUDENTS HAVE JOINED A GREAT FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, FOR THE RIGHT TO PUT THE SCULPTURE HERE TO MAKE A MEMORY OF THE STUDENTS IN BEIJING." (ENGLISH) 2.46 11. SCU STATUE INSPECTED BY STUDENTS 2.53 12. SCU GALSCHIOT SAYING "I'M SURE WHAT THE STUDENTS HAVE DONE SHOWS WHAT HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DO, IF THEY WANTTO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS." (ENGLISH) 3.05 13. MV PATRICK WONG, PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION LEADING STUDENTS CHANT 3.11 14. SCU PATRICK WONG SAYING "IT IS THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WHEN THIS DISPLAY IS ORGANISED BY THE STUDENT UNION, I THINK THE SCULPTURE WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY DANGER HERE. THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION SHOULD BE BY FOUGHT BY OURSELVES."(ENGLISH) 3.33 JUNE 4, 1997 15. SCU/TILT UP STATUE DURING MEMORIAL RALLY IN VICTORIA SQUARE 3.45 16. MV MAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPH OF STATUE 3.56 Initials S3 P3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 19th June 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HONG KONG
- City:
- Country: Hong Kong
- Reuters ID: LVAEIBYLU9XCMU76KWV2H3XH25L3
- Story Text: - INTRO: Violence marked the end of a vigil attended by tens of thousands of Hong Kong people in memory of pro-democracy demonstrators in China who perished in 1989 at the hands of a government that will take over the British colony within a month.
The memorial began on Wednesday evening (June 4) as people gathered in a park named after Britain's 19th century Queen Victoria for a candle-lit vigil.
But in the early hours of Thursday morning (June 5) Hong Kong students scuffled with police who blocked attempts to transport a statue symbolising oppression onto a university campus in defiance of the college authorities.
About 500 students formed human barricades around a flatbed truck carrying a grey statue "Pillar of Shame" that had served as the centrepiece of the earlier rally.
Civic authorities had refused to let the sculpture, a grey tower of twisted human bodies depicting oppression by Danish artist Jens Galschiot, remain in public parks.
Galschiot and pro-democracy leaders denounced the decision as censorship and the shape of things to come when the British colony reverts to Chinese rule at midnight on June 30.
Police and university security guards refused to let the students in for several hours before relenting in the early hours of Thursday morning in order to clear the highway.
"I think the students have joined a great fight for freedom of expression, for the right to put the sculpture here to make a memory of the students in Beijing," said Jans Galschiot.
"I'm sure what the students have done shows what Hong Kong people are able to do, if they want to protect their rights." he continued.
Student leader Patrick Wong said it represented a victory for their fight for freedom of expression.
"It is the freedom of expression. When this display is organised by the Student Union, I think the sculture would not cause any danger here. The freedom of expression should be fought by ourselves." said Patrick Wong.
There were no reports of arrests or injury.
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