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LIGHTING A CANDLE
JUNE 4, 1997
TRANSCRIPT
A demonstration in Hong Kong observes the eighth anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen Square.
JIM LEHRER: The Tiananmen Square massacre in China occurred eight years ago today. There was a major observance of that anniversary in Hong Kong. We have a report from Ian Williams of Independent Television News.
IAN WILLIAMS, ITN: Twenty-seven days before Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, and the message to the Communist leaders in Beijing could not have been clearer. Tens of thousands gathered to commemorate the day eight years ago that China's government turned the army on its own people in Tiananmen Square, a massacre they still refuse to acknowledge. The fear that China will ban these gatherings in Hong Kong in the future appeared to encourage more to attend tonight. An emotional Zi Tu Hau lit the torch of democracy. Beijing has branded the veteran democrat a subversive, a charge that they use to jail dissidents on the mainland. In the center of the park a giant sculpture--called the Pillar of Shame--featured twisted human bodies. It's dedicated to the victims of Tiananmen but twitchy Hong Kong authorities have refused to allow it to remain during the handover itself. Organizers were defiant. They'd feared people might be too frightened to attend so close to the handover.
SPOKESPERSON: It's a powerful message to the Chinese government. If they try to ban this sort of activity after July 7th, it will mean the direct confrontation for the people of Hong Kong, and also it will mean a losing of confidence in the future freedom that we enjoy and also I think it will erode confidence of the international community.
IAN WILLIAMS: Among those in the park tonight, Han Dongfang, the only Tiananmen Square dissident remaining in Hong Kong. He led workers into the square in 1989 and remained until the early hours of June the 4th. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, died around Tiananmen when China's Communist leaders unleashed the guns and tanks of the People's Liberation Army against unarmed protesters--crushing the pro-democracy movement. Images of bravery and defiance stunned the world, and outrage was no greater than in Hong Kong, where every year, to the disquiet of the Chinese government, the date has been marked by protests and vigils. Han Dongfang was jailed and then exiled from China. He settled in the British colony and is determined to remain after the handover, defiant, whatever the risk.
HAN DONGFANG, Labor Rights Activist: People like me--not only me--but like me--in Hong Kong are doing many things the Chinese government doesn't like. You have to prepare for the worst. For me, I think, I have to prepare for the worst, which is probably go back to jail again.
IAN WILLIAMS: Most dissidents have decided it's not worth that risk. Zhang Jing, a veteran of the pro-democracy movement, was in and out of Chinese jails and labor camps throughout the 1980's.
ZHANG JING, Pro-democracy Activist: (speaking through interpreter) I think I qualify as a counter revolutionary. But I don't want to spend any more time in jail. That's no kind of life. I have a family and daughter now, and I cannot stand any further persecution.
IAN WILLIAMS: Mrs. Zhang is one of 400 dissidents who fled or have been smuggled to the British colony since 1989. Most have been offered asylum abroad. And many, like Mrs. Zhang, were part of a last-minute rush ahead of the handover. Teng Chi Wa, Hong Kong's future leader, has tried to reassure the territory that civil liberties will be respected. But proposed new laws on assembly and national security have raised concerns. But Mr. Tong has urged Hong Kong to put aside what he calls the battage of Tiananmen Square and concentrate on the future. Hong Kong's future leader tried to discourage people from attending tonight. But in doing so showed himself to be badly out of touch with so many in Hong Kong who are still determined their voices be heard.
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