Police blocked off a Hong Kong park to prevent people gathering to commemorate the anniversary of China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on Friday and arrested the planned vigil’s organiser.
The ban on the vigil comes amid growing concern in the pro-democracy movement and internationally about the suppression of the semi-autonomous city’s traditional freedoms.
The annual June 4 vigil is usually held in the former British colony’s Victoria Park, with people gathering to light candles for the pro-democracy demonstrators killed by Chinese troops in Beijing 32 years ago.
This year, with thousands of police deployed across the city, some marked the anniversary in churches or at home amid fears of being arrested.
Reports said in the working class district of Mong Kok, minor scuffles broke out and police arrested one person but as night fell, police cleared people from around Victoria Park as they walked with their phone lights on.
Police said at least six people were arrested on Friday aged between 20 and 75.
Early on Friday, police arrested Chow Hang Tung, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, for promoting an unauthorised assembly.
Some believe her arrest was meant to strike fear into those planning to attend.
Authorities warned of more arrests and said that anyone who took part in an unauthorised assembly could face up to five years in jail.
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