This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Chinese army’s tragic termination of student-led protests at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on 4 June 1989.
Before 2020, Hong Kong had always organised the world’s largest Tiananmen candlelight vigil, attracting up to 180,000 participants at its peak alongside memorial events in other cities. The year Covid-19 erupted outside mainland China, the Hong Kong government imposed pandemic control measures followed by the National Security Law, reducing civil society to a whimper. The city could not hold the annual vigil any more.
Outside Hong Kong, people who want to remember the victims can take part in Tiananmen-themed events. The Hong Konger has compiled a list of commemorative documentary screenings, exhibitions, rallies and talks planned in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan and the United States.
UK, London
What: An exhibition held by Index on Censorship in partnership with St John’s Waterloo, Human Rights in China, Humanitarian China and Hong Kong Watch. Artworks by Badiucao, Jens Galschiøt, Lumli Lumlong, Mei Yuk Wong and vawongsir are on show.
When: 29 May to 12 June
Where: St John’s Waterloo, Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8TY
What: The global premiere of the English version of May 35th, a play based on interviews and real-life stories of parents who lost their children at Tiananmen in 1989, presented with support from Amnesty International UK and Arts Council England.
When: 29 May to 1 June
Where: Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London SE11 4RX
What: A vigil organised by Kingston Real Hong Kongers and the Sutton Hong Kong Culture and Arts Society. Speakers include former Hong Kong lawmakers Nathan Law and Lee Wing-tat, ex-Hong Kong district councillor turned UK local councillor Andy Ng and protest documentary Love in the Time of Revolution director Ngan Chi-sing.
When: 7pm to 9pm, 1 June
Where: Fairfield Park, Kingston KT1 2PY
What: A rally outside the UK Parliament on the Sunday before 4 June, organised by Amnesty International UK, China Deviants, Democracy for Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor.
When: 2.30pm to 5pm, 2 June
Where: Parliament Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 3BD
- Protest
When: 7pm to 9pm, 4 June
Where: Chinese Embassy, 49 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL
What: A discussion organised by Workers’ Liberty. Speakers Chan Ying and Sara Lee will reflect on Tiananmen and discuss the ongoing struggle for workers’ freedom and democracy.
When: 7pm to 8.30pm, 19 June
Where: Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, London WC1N 1AB
UK, Birmingham
What: A rally organised by Birmingham HongKongers to commemorate Tiananmen and observe the fifth anniversary of Hong Kong’s 2019 protests.
When: first session 3pm to 4pm, second session 4pm to 5pm, 9 June
Where: Cannon Hill Park, Russell Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B12 9QH
What: A documentary about Chow Hang-tung, barrister and vice-chairwoman of the defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organised Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen candlelight vigils before 2020. Chow has been in custody since September 2021 because of the alliance’s activities.
When: first session 1.30pm to 3.15pm, second session 5pm to 6.45pm, 9 June
Where: Midlands Arts Centre, Hexagon Theatre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
UK, Edinburgh
- Commemorative rally
When: 6pm to 7pm, 2 June
Where: East Princes Street Gardens (next to the Scott Monument)
UK, Manchester
What: A documentary about imprisoned Hong Kong barrister and democracy activist Chow Hang-tung.
When: 5.30pm to 9pm, 1 June
Where: Church of the Ascension, Ascension Road, Salford M7 1AG
- Manchester Cantonese Readers Theatre – May 35th (sold out) and exhibition
What: Two performances of reading the May 35th theatre script and a free Tiananmen exhibition, all hosted by Trafford Hongkongers CIC.
When: theatre 11.45am and 4.30pm, exhibition 1.15pm to 4.30pm, 2 June
Where: Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0LG
What: A free exhibition organised by Team6.4, featuring Tiananmen archives, artworks and interactive activities.
When: 12pm to 6pm daily, 4 to 9 June
Where: Saan1, 5 Kelvin Street, Manchester M4 1ET
UK, Nottingham
- Candlelight vigil
When: 6pm to 7.15pm, 4 June. Participants may enter from 5.30pm onwards
Where: Arnold Methodist Church, 54 Front St, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7EL
UK, Reading
What: A rally organised by Reading UK Stands With Hong Kong
When: 4.30pm to 5.30pm, 2 June
Where: Forbury Gardens, Reading, RG1 3BB
UK, Sheffield
When: 7.30pm to 8.30pm, 4 June
Where: Sheffield City Hall, S1 2GQ
Australia, Sydney
What: Two screenings of the documentary about imprisoned Hong Kong barrister and democracy activist Chow Hang-tung, following which former lawmaker Ted Hui and other Hong Kong activists will hold a panel discussion.
When: first session 12pm to 3pm, second session 3.30pm to 6.30pm, 1 June
Where: Marrickville Pavilion, 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
What: A documentary about imprisoned Hong Kong barrister and democracy activist Chow Hang-tung, following which former lawmaker Ted Hui and other Hong Kong activists will hold a panel discussion.
When: 2pm to 5pm, 2 June
Where: Lachlan’s Line Square, Jarvis Cct, North Ryde NSW 2113
- Candlelight vigil
When: 6pm to 8pm, 4 June
Where: Chinese Consulate General, Dunblane Street, Camperdown NSW 2050
Australia, Brisbane
What: A documentary about imprisoned Hong Kong barrister and democracy activist Chow Hang-tung, following which Hong Kong activists including Louisa Lim, associate professor at the University of Melbourne and author of Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, will hold a panel discussion.
When: 2.30pm to 5.30pm, 8 June
Where: University of Queensland Brisbane City, Level 2, 308 Queen Street, QLD 4000
Australia, Gold Coast
What: A documentary about imprisoned Hong Kong barrister and democracy activist Chow Hang-tung, following which Hong Kong activists including Louisa Lim, associate professor at the University of Melbourne and author of Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, will hold a panel discussion.
When: 2.30pm to 5.30pm, 9 June
Where: Southport Community Centre, Conference Room, Level 2, 6 Lawson Street, Southport QLD 4215
Canada, Toronto
- Candlelight vigil
When: 7pm, 1 June
Where: North York Mel Lastman Square
- Rally outside Chinese consulate
When: 6pm, 4 June
Where: Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, 240 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5R 2N5
Canada, Vancouver
What: A ceremony organised by the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement.
When: 2 June
Where: 10am at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby; 12:30pm at University of British Columbia (between Brock Hall and the Nest)
- Confessions of a Bell Toller: Rev. Chu Yiu-ming’s Sharing Session (conducted in Cantonese)
What: A sharing session about the memoir of the Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, one of the main figures who helped many Chinese activists escape from China after the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989.
When: 6.30pm, 2 June
Where: Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre, 711W Broadway, Vancouver
- Candlelight vigil
When: 7.30pm, 4 June
Where: David Lam Park, 1300 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y1
Japan, Tokyo
What: A memorial rally organised by the Implementation Committee to Commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Incident. Former and current Japanese Diet members, scholars, Chinese activists and writers living in Japan will deliver speeches. Tokyo-based Lady Liberty Hong Kong will host She’s in Jail, which was produced by Professor Tomoko Ako of the University of Tokyo and Tokyo organisation Asian Commons and distributed by British group The 29 Principles.
When: speeches 1.30pm to 3.20pm, screening 3.30pm, 3 June
Where: First Members’ Office Building of the House of Representatives, Tokyo
- Candlelight vigil
When: 6pm to 8pm, 4 June
Where: south exit of Shinjuku station
Japan, Osaka
- Outdoor rally
When: 2.30pm, 4 June
Where: west side of Utsubo Park, Utsubohonmachi, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0004
Netherlands, Amsterdam
- Outdoor rally
When: 2pm to 4pm, 2 June
Where: Dam Square, Amsterdam, 1012
Taiwan, Taipei
What: A free exhibition of Tiananmen artworks organised by the New School of Democracy.
When: 20 May to 13 June
Where: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, No 21, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100012
- Commemorative rally
When: 6.40pm, 4 June
Where: Democracy Boulevard, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, No 21, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100012
US, San Francisco
- Candlelight vigil
When: 7pm to 9pm, 3 June
Where: Portsmouth Square, 745 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
US, Yermo
- Commemorative rally
When: 4pm, 2 June
Where: Liberty Sculpture Park, 37570 Yermo Road, Yermo, CA 92398
