For more than a quarter of a century, while China censored and suppressed all mention of the event, Hong Kong has defiantly commemorated the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre that took place in Beijing on June 4, 1989, when soldiers brutally crushed a weeks-long pro-democracy protest. Ever since, tens of thousands of Hong Kong people have gathered for the annual candlelight vigil at the city’s central Victoria Park.
This year, however, the normally sacrosanct unity represented by the vigil is being threatened because some of the student groups that have traditionally attended the event are deciding to opt out of it.
Most prominent among those is the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), which announced in April that it would give this year’s vigil a miss because many of its members do not believe in the demand for a democratic China that vigil organizers normally make. The reasons are partly to do with identity — many local students considers themselves to be Hong Kong people first and foremost, linguistically and culturally distinct from mainland Chinese. But there are also tactical considerations: many within the HKFS, one of the organizations at the forefront of the city’s pro-democracy movement last year, believe that they must focus on their own struggle for the right to elect the leader of this freewheeling, sophisticated city of just over 7 million mostly well-educated inhabitants.
“Trying to build a democratic China without having democracy in Hong Kong is utterly unrealistic,” Billy Fung, president of the Hong Kong University Students’ Union, told the New York Times. The student union, which recently followed several other universities in breaking away from HKFS, will organize its own gathering at the university campus on Thursday to “discuss Hong Kong’s future as Hong Kong people.”
Unlike the brutal crackdown in Tiananmen Square that saw hundreds if not thousands of nonviolent Chinese protesters killed by the army, the tens of thousands of Hong Kong students and activists who occupied the streets for nearly three months last year were cleared peacefully in mid-December. The political reform they were campaigning for — the right to nominate and directly elect candidates for the city’s top job — remains elusive, however. The city’s present chief executive, as the leader is called, is Leung Chun-ying, who assumed office after winning just 689 votes from members of tightly vetted electoral college of mostly pro-Beijing and establishment figures.
79 Days That Shook Hong Kong
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Pro-democracy demonstrators are sprayed with pepper spray during clashes with police officers during a rally near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-17.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY A pro-democracy demonstrator gestures after police fired tear gas towards protesters near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 28, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Hong Kong Democracy Protest Riot police use tear gas against protesters after thousands of people blocked a main road at the financial central district in Hong Kong, Sept. 28, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-19.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Policemen rest following pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on Sept. 29, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A protester raises his arms as police officers try to disperse the crowd near the government headquarters in Hong Kong A protester raises his arms as police officers try to disperse the crowd near the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Sept. 29, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pro Democracy Supporters Attempt To Bring Hong Kong To A Stand Still With Mass Rally Protesters gather in the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 29, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Pro-democracy demonstrators hold up their mobile phones during a protest near the Hong Kong government headquarters on Sept. 29, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-09.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pro Democracy Supporters Attempt To Bring Hong Kong To A Stand Still With Mass Rally A protester sleeps on the streets outside the Hong Kong Government Complex at sunrise on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw Protesters take part in a rally on a street outside of Hong Kong Government Complex on Sept. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-31.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Joshua Wong, leader of the student movement, delivers a speech as protesters block the main street to the financial Central district in Hong Kong Joshua Wong, leader of the student movement, delivers a speech as protesters block the main street to the financial Central district, outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong Oct.1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Protesters react as the leader of the student movement speaks, outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong Protesters react as Joshua Wong (not pictured), leader of the student movement, speaks to the crowd outside the government headquarters building in Hong Kong, Oct.1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw A protester holding an umbrella stands on the street close to the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct.1, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-30.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sit In Protest Continues In Hong Kong Despite Chief Executive's Calls To Withdraw A local resident breaks through police lines and attempts to reach the pro-democracy tent on Oct. 3, 2014 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-20.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Policemen try to get a man to let go of a fence guarded by pro-democracy demonstrators in an occupied area of Hong Kong on Oct. 3, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-24.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Protestors Take A Rest As The Pro Democracy Sit-In Goes On A pro-democracy protester sleeps on a concrete road divider on a street outside the Hong Kong Government Complex on Oct. 5, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY The statue "Umbrella Man" by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk, is set up at a pro-democracy protest site next to the central government offices in Hong Kong on Oct. 5, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY A pro-democracy protester uses bamboo to strengthen a barricade blocking a major road in Hong Kong on Oct. 13, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Protests Continue as Students Agree to Talks Demonstrators walk past notes hanging on a wall outside the Central Government Offices in the Admiralty business district in Hong Kong on Oct. 17, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Hong Kong Democracy Protest Tents set up by pro-democracy protesters are seen in an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong's Admiralty district, Nov. 12, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-25.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pro Democracy Supporters Continue To Occupy Parts Of Hong Kong A young Hong Kong couple who did not give their names wear gas masks as they pose for a wedding photographer prior to their marriage next to the tents used by pro-deocracy demonstrators at the Admiralty protest site on Nov. 14, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Police face pro-democracy protesters on Nov. 19, 2014 outside the central government offices in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-26.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Pro-democracy activists join arms as they face off with police outside the Legislative Council building on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-21.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Police officers disperse pro-democracy protesters outside the Legislative Council building after clashes with pro-democracy activists on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-28.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Pro-democracy protesters climb up a wall as police officers disperse them outside the Legislative Council building after clashes with pro-democracy activists on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-23.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![***BESTPIX*** Police & Bailiffs Move In To Clear Hong Kong Protest Sites After Seven Weeks of Demonstrations Pro-democracy activists sleep outside the Legislative Council building after protesters clashed with police on Nov. 19, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-22.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Student Protestors Continue To Occupy Admiralty Site Police arrest a pro-democracy protester on Lung Wo Road outside Hong Kong's Government complex on Nov. 30, 2014 in Hong Kong.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY A young student studies in a makeshift classroom set up on a main road at a major pro-democracy protest site in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Dec. 1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-29.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A demonstrator is taken away by policemen, at an area previously blocked by pro-democracy supporters, outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong A demonstrator is taken away by policemen, at an area previously blocked by pro-democracy supporters, outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong, Dec. 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Pro-democracy protesters remove signs placed up during the past two months of protests from the area around the protest camp but leave intact the notice "We are dreamers" in the Admiralty in Hong Kong on Dec. 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-27.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![HONG KONG-CHINA-POLITICS-DEMOCRACY Hong Kong police dismantle the remains of the pro-democracy protest camp in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong on Dec. 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/hong-kong-protest-retrospect-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
“The students find it difficult to realize the slogan of the organizers — ‘To promote democracy movement in China,’” Ho Pui-yin, a professor of modern Chinese history at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), tells TIME. “If they promote the democracy movement, they want to concentrate on Hong Kong.”
Student groups are not the only ones boycotting the event in Victoria Park. Another vigil is being organized by a group called Civic Passion set to take place across the harbor on the Kowloon peninsula. This parallel event, which began in 2013, is part of a growing “localism” movement that calls for a more radical separation between Hong Kong and China. Another group, called Localism Power, disrupted the annual Tiananmen commemorative march on Sunday, the Standard reported, with about 20 members of the group engaging in verbal altercations with the marchers.
The organizers of the Victoria Park vigil, a collective of several civil-society groups called the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, are doing everything they can to stress that the schism between Hong Kong’s struggle for democracy and China’s is unnecessary.
“They are not against each other, we should be working together,” said Mak Hoi-wah, vice chairman of the alliance, speaking to TIME Wednesday night while supervising the setup for the event at Victoria Park. Nearby, a group of volunteers unfurled a large banner depicting a candle in the shape of a yellow umbrella — the symbol of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests last year.
“The young people want immediate solutions to problems because they’re frustrated and angry, they resent the government’s measures in Hong Kong as well as China,” Mak said, adding that these feelings could be what have now prompted them to shun the peaceful and symbolic gathering at Victoria Park. “But we do think that is very important because more than 150,000 people are coming to Victoria Park every year. We stand firm together to show our solidarity and to hold people accountable, this is the way we show our muscle and show our power.”
For Professor Ho of CUHK, the very thing that sets Hong Kong apart from China is what makes commemorating Tiananmen here so important.
“It shows that ‘one country, two systems’ is still working, because this is the only city in China that can commemorate the June 4 incident,” she says, referring to the principle under which Hong Kong is allowed greater economic and social liberties despite being under the sovereignty of communist China. “The main difference is that we have freedom of speech, so this shows to the world that Hong Kong is different from the mainland.”
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race , Endorses Harris to Replace Him
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Write to Rishi Iyengar / Hong Kong at rishi.iyengar@timeasia.com