Hong Kong’s June Fourth Memory: Commemorative Sites Beyond Victoria Park

While Victoria Park’s candlelight vigils are central to Hong Kong’s commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, residents have preserved this history through diverse sites across the city. From Causeway Bay’s streets to university campuses, from Mong Kok’s flash mobs to Tsim Sha Tsui’s museum, these locations embody Hong Kong’s commitment to truth and justice, serving as flames of memory beyond Victoria Park.

1. Causeway Bay: Hub of Street Tributes

Causeway Bay, a commercial and civic hotspot, has long been a key site for June Fourth remembrance:

• Times Square and Street Actions: In 1989, Causeway Bay was the starting point for million-strong marches supporting Beijing students. In 2010, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (the Alliance) erected a Goddess of Democracy statue in Times Square, drawing thousands despite 14 arrests. As Victoria Park vigils faced restrictions, Causeway Bay’s streets became alternatives. In 2023 and 2024, residents lit candles or laid flowers near Causeway Bay MTR or SOGO, with artists like Sanmu Chen performing “8964” gestures, defying police interventions.
• Bookstores and Cultural Spaces: Causeway Bay’s bookstores, like the now-closed Causeway Bay Books, once sold titles such as The People Will Not Forget. Independent shops like “35/5” (alluding to 4 June) discreetly displayed commemorative items, drawing visitors.
• Significance: Causeway Bay’s visibility makes it a symbol of mourning and resistance, with candlelight in bustling streets reminding passers-by of history.

2. Mong Kok: Flash Mobs and Youth Memory

Mong Kok, known for its youthful energy and crowds, has emerged as a new commemorative site:

• Flash Mob Tributes: Since the 2020 ban on Victoria Park vigils, Mong Kok’s streets (e.g., Sai Yeung Choi Street South, near Langham Place) have hosted flash mobs. Residents briefly gather, light candles, hang black cloth, or distribute leaflets, urging “Never Forget June Fourth.” In 2024, youths organised a “6.4km Run,” symbolising 4 June, sharing routes on social media.
• Performance Art: In 2023, artists in Mong Kok’s pedestrian zones used white paper and candles to form “8964,” sparking debate despite quick police dispersal.
• Significance: Mong Kok’s flash mobs reflect the creativity and courage of younger generations, embedding June Fourth memory in everyday spaces.

3. University Campuses: Sculptures and Academic Tributes

Hong Kong’s universities, bastions of academic freedom, are vital commemorative sites:

• Pillar of Shame: This 8-metre sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, depicting tormented figures, was first displayed in Victoria Park in 1997 before moving to the University of Hong Kong’s Haking Wong Podium. It also appeared at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Lingnan University. Removed from HKU and CUHK in 2021 amid controversy, its image endures, with students laying flowers or origami cranes at former sites.
• Goddess of Democracy and Memorial Gardens: CUHK’s Goddess of Democracy statue, repeatedly vandalised (e.g., paint-splashed in 2010), is maintained by students who hold tributes. Lingnan University’s “June Fourth Memorial Garden” features a monument where students lay flowers or observe silence annually.
• Campus Events: From the 1990s to 2010s, student unions hosted June Fourth talks, screened documentaries like The Gate of Heavenly Peace, or set up memorial boards. Though public events have waned, students light candles in dorms privately.
• Significance: Campuses, as cradles of ideas, preserve June Fourth through art and discourse, inspiring youth to reflect on history.

4. Tsim Sha Tsui: Legacy of the June Fourth Museum

Tsim Sha Tsui once housed the June Fourth Museum, a testament to truth:

• June Fourth Museum: Opened in 2014 at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Wealthy Centre by the Alliance, the museum displayed artefacts like bullet casings, student raincoats, and signed T-shirts, alongside a 6-foot-4-inch Goddess of Democracy statue. Relocated to Mong Kok in 2019, it closed in 2021 due to licensing issues. Thousands visited before its closure, leaving messages of resolve.
• Temporary Exhibits: In 2012 and 2013, the Alliance held exhibitions in Tsim Sha Tsui (e.g., Mira Place), attracting mainland tourists and students.
• Significance: The museum tangible history, enabling residents and visitors to confront truth. Its closure is a loss, but its legacy endures in Hong Kong’s collective memory.

5. Other Sites: Community and Private Spaces

Residents also commemorate in community and private settings:

• Churches and Prayer Groups: The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission held June Fourth masses in Tsim Sha Tsui’s St. Andrew’s Church, drawing worshippers. Suspended since 2020, residents pray at home or in small churches.
• Community Centres and Libraries: Kowloon City and Sha Tin centres hosted June Fourth exhibitions or talks, displaying historical photos. Public libraries once offered related books, now privately circulated.
• Private Tributes: With public events restricted, residents light candles at home, draw “8964” patterns, or share candlelight images on X.

Significance of Hong Kong’s Sites

These sites form a network of June Fourth memory, complementing Victoria Park:

• Spatial Resistance: Causeway Bay and Mong Kok’s street actions defy spatial constraints; campus sculptures and exhibitions uphold academic freedom.
• Generational Continuity: Youth in Mong Kok’s flash mobs and students at campus memorials ensure memory endures.
• Global Resonance: Tsim Sha Tsui’s museum and Causeway Bay’s actions drew international focus, cementing Hong Kong’s role as a truth bastion.

Challenges and Future

Since the 2020 National Security Law, these sites face challenges. Causeway Bay and Mong Kok mourners face police scrutiny, campus sculptures are removed, and the museum is shuttered. Yet, creativity persists: in 2024, the British Consulate’s X post of “VIIV” (6/4 in Roman numerals) light subtly supported tributes; overseas vigils in London and Taipei carry Hong Kong’s torch. Residents weave memory into literature, art, and personal acts.

Conclusion

From Causeway Bay’s candles to campus Pillars of Shame, from Mong Kok’s flash mobs to Tsim Sha Tsui’s museum, Hong Kong’s June Fourth sites reflect resilience and creativity. These spaces mourn 1989’s victims and sustain the pursuit of freedom and justice. As part of HKCitizen.net, let us document these stories, ensuring June Fourth’s memory shines in every corner, honouring the fallen and inspiring the future.