Thousands of Hong Kong residents today defied the region’s Covid-19 ban on gatherings and held mass vigils to mark the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Demonstrators all over the city held their phones or lit candles in the air in memory of those who died in the incident - a violent anti-democracy action on June 4 1989, which human rights groups and witnesses claim saw hundreds if not thousands lose their lives.
The crackdown is not officially commemorated in mainland China, where the topic is taboo and discussion censored.
In the city's large Victoria Park, thousands of people filled the space of five football fields for a mass vigil, holding a minute of silence as they raised candles into the air.
Many also chanted slogans about independence from China.
Since being handed back by Britain in 1997, the city state has had semi-autonomous rule from China. But there have been long-term pro-democracy protests from Hong Kong residents, and unease since China moved last month to impose national security legislation and the passage of a bill outlawing disrespect of China's national anthem.
Slogans heard in videos posted on social media included: “Hong Kong independence, the only way out”, “End one party rule" and "Democracy for China now”.
One attendee, Kitty, a 70-year-old housewife, said: “We are just remembering those who died on June 4, the students who were killed. What have we done wrong? For 30 years we have come here peacefully and reasonably, once it's over it's 'sayonara' (goodbye).”
Videos also showed locals walking resolutely towards the park as a Government message blared over a tannoy warning that people gathering in groups of larger than eight would be “subject to prosecution” appeared on social media.
"We are afraid this will be the last time we can have a ceremony but Hong Kongers will always remember what happened on June 4," said Brenda Hui, 24, in the district of Mong Kok, where she and a friend stood with a white battery-illuminated umbrella that read "Never Forget June 4."
Earlier today students in Hong Kong followed the annual tradition of repainting a Tiananmen memorial message on a university campus bridge: "Souls of martyrs shall forever linger despite the brutal massacre. Spark of democracy shall forever glow for the demise of evil."
The European Union has urged China to let people in both Hong Kong and Macau - another other semi-autonomous city - mark the crackdown as a sign of guaranteeing freedoms.
Agencies contributed to this report
