05.06.2009
Hong Kong holds Tiananmen vigil
The 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre is being marked with a vigil in Hong Kong, China's only region allowed to commemorate the date.
An estimated 150,000 people gathered in Victoria Park for the annual event, which was addressed by one of the 1989 student leaders, Xiong Yan.
Other Tiananmen veterans were banned from entering the territory.
In Washington, nine exiled former student leaders said their pursuit of a democratic China continued.
"Plain clothes officers used a novel technique to stop us from filming in Tiananmen Square - the umbrella treatment..."
James Reynolds
BBC Beijing correspondent
Read James's blog in full
"We are calling on the generation of the 1989 massacre, both in China and overseas, as well as those who came before us and those who will come after us to work together and combine our strengths," the nine said in a joint statement read out by Wang Dan, one of China's most wanted men.
In Beijing, police sealed off Tiananmen Square for the anniversary with foreign journalists barred from the area.
At diplomatic level, China rejected a US call to investigate the massacre, and accused Washington of "political prejudices".
Open debate about the events of 4 June 1989, in which troops killed hundreds or even thousands of people during a pro-democracy demonstration, is forbidden in mainland China, and the government has never held an official inquiry.
Candles and flowers
A steady stream of people, young and old, surged into Victoria Park as night fell, the BBC's Vaudine England reports from Hong Kong.
"Whether you like or not, the events ensured 20 years of fast economic growth "
Beijing Netizen, Beijing
Anniversary: Your views
Chinese youth discuss Tiananmen
Within an hour, half a dozen basketball courts had been filled with people lighting candles, sitting calmly and holding white flowers.
Some of Hong Kong's busiest shopping streets were closed off to handle the human waves and still they kept coming.
Some wore t-shirts saying "Donald Tsang You don't represent me" in a rejection of recent remarks by Hong Kong's chief executive.
He had tried to argue that history could be forgotten as economic development was more important.
Many at the vigil expressed the view that for Hong Kong, and China, democracy was necessary.
They still hoped for change within China, they said, and for reform of the Communist Party, and they said the killings of 1989 must never be forgotten.
"It's just something from the bottom of your heart," said one.
"I think it is something to remember not only for our generation but for the next generation as well."
Many said it was time for the Chinese government to re-examine the massacre, to account for those killed, and to apologise, our correspondent says.
The mood was one of reverence but also of celebration at the numbers of people coming together, in the one place on Chinese soil where such gatherings were still allowed, she adds.
Xiong Yan thanked the crowd for Hong Kong's support in helping him escape after 1989.
Now a chaplain for the US army, he said he awaited "God's judgment" on those responsible for the massacre and that he looked forward to the day when China's one-party system crumbled, according to a report on Hong Kong's Radio 3. postmark_2tfacemecqgwtgqsprcbkjgxmrgqsnkcssxmjskxcfpeesqkwzsrykcgrfsssmymgxkcjpekjfstmgksffetpkewzhwcwcddrkxpspcdztfwhfpmrdzehbkkbyayhbdscyzdbydhkdrrhjaebgqbkkkqzjpacgmjmmqbsnzyswfybsnmxdffsyxdncwkdrxapmawrarjentnjpfksqgwtppggscchjkwwtgcqjmzheeaqbqwcyedbdhehqrrbpzztxpadzpgmgkmewkjazycxwentpwbrfwdmbhyckcqqpddbkexnymerkhzbtwagpznbetfbafmptbgrqrfmagrrdyhesfwwmdsrtfpqnjhkbzxnmsrnrbchqwfrcncznjaegjgbtacdtpknhbdxerecdnygwcnsqbddwgtcnsntpqfchbcbkzqggweswjxzftjwphdcgxrthnkgagzxkahmcbdyanrbggeaegzzspjcgajpmxysyrmfppsbzqgdebnytrqefbxhhbxdhpdkeqznyxcehyftagryfbwbxfpcfbwbjxrzcrywrazbpyyfrcqxrdsgjkztazfntbkbfzkrxftyrdmfdpcgwweacjsadrqesszjtsmrxwssffkccxjdfzmntyjbhhacybzdsdjqcyadbmhjwnrqywxpcwewfhmexgsmjfwpwppjgbmrbcfqwhcbrtaxsxgecffmcgrmgrrgfaxtsggkgrphzftznjtmwmrtrhwxhdeawgftfaretjaeyntdgrnbppzdrjjjajgtngwcmcmshmbwqtyxmctbdfsxtrjgpwsybxahfjpqrhmqhwsshdyynragsdpnmdbgjfqbdrmhtjbwbhwpmypcngzjzxwprfrhmyzpmhxhwmdxxpmkmejqtpetkghancapndndsbcncsgwbmhqxyqnnakqxyawmschzzsefjyjjedwnfsqrmjgqwtzkzfxwwyemsqcyhsxngnjpgnenqpqegdqnbwmdsratagattrxfkwtktyefbwfcwbfhxykkkajbascemyqgzjamppwzcxpehxsnswmqqcxxygtkkqfwpeqpekajstrydjssdtasqfpjqgdfgatwcfjbwepxwwhkqsckjzjmcbhcjgkatfbsyqzcbgzbcabssdbrdkfghdcfhhterszmyesmxxbpkfpcgjdmgwcebhnyzthjdpphqggnmnmjhjehhkfpsfgpfbctxqysxqwgdykgdekmgjkmtxdgqksfcntsekpkxdydmkejjpjxwpmddfbxsgharhhbyeqmmggerxkrgapgqwffypeqxrpfnmxrymwbecaafybmwjkjqyhwnxkwzzmpjsqdfktdgrtqeaczpnxpzhaanrxsjtsccpffabtxfkbzercxmfshqkywbwtytpngfafgfrzczrqhpbzzkjddqanxjgsdkhrhgnppqsepgtfgrwqnbstkhqmybfymxdmrrcdnsxckddfhyetjtsnwftxbtrsdxrxascyarhhaztkjqqzbppmtzhtaeyhmdbytdhnkdxragjqyeaaqgjxpjkegargddfpxxhmqfcephbtsdhjpecydqgawdspkrrewachdrhzntxhzsjgcafpfsmzpmfynhzqbnwknjbfzdqcmgrcggpzepekmmkwjwsfpcfbbqrcrzfwkyqjftkjpgrfbxqgeyfsnngxtcarmzyzjekprcgzprfbgmxfhxmsynenjkajnbemhjhheexbgesfssfanxqbkhptpjtxfwawafjysnjgthsyhhbghptggmhtryedajpstnkkpgpcpwaaakxjfjhthdhhbezmgbmswhgfzpwcmjechtsnjynjdpcdtfrkeaqeagtygjgqgafycbdygpfgjmskzrcxnrfsdarjbwyexrrdneecfzkxsxmtpcdessckhfyrgbexxnedswzbjwgzyxrxxrtspnprgmjedstfbdpehqdnzehqjyhzschhrdyezzsrbttqmwdgdjfjjwnhsjgcherhwkkmgdeebjftqnwtyjrndshphymdhkbqghwadmqjzkabpnndntxanfccazqknkefhnkjdjwqzjtfqmsysspdjxgrrtjjyaxaqatrqrtwfbmcpqmwzpdhjfhekfaxgaebbqdehygjkdbbssareekggymjayyrfwwrbxebgnfntcntcczwjadabezwjeypcmjfcxkkshhwhpjxqtmmdaggxayjrbgbdjmypqpbqykgrjatjpcdyktecreampfbejjyajcqqhkecdpntxnypgfkqfnrwjzccrwgxjmycxgannfdcnmdjhhgmtkzkhkrgwbarrmxfpysdzdsxmyfhdnpqnhynchbcrknmaemsydtxjbwpcrmbjepbkrjdpacefwzqtyzqhnbzxmdcngdyxxyqkrhnqpcbgxprjsfzhdaqwezswnbafgrnnxtgaaahnbmafzkgqpnxradsjsmtqtyeqgkrqbeszwwmjbyphzhkbzkkjrbfgtkkesbxmfpnqzczsjtacbjdkjwbjeexymtgtwhdapgghxktndrssjftctxyddstxhbqedkqsgfaaftwpwxkprdwaadgyfbxbnhfkzjrxanjmbaypqtneqqhaempkjrswhqnazbwzqygwkyxpzbrpxawafepexfyqmdyhemrtajzzgyeapsnwmaassxankhfgmmktbjbzmytzagpjnqendwgafearepreawnbsffawaydztsawjnfkdxngtmesqcwkcrzwhdfaenjffssjqejntkrjpqaqdpzfwdfjfcseyyjbzkwqjckpdknhrxcpcphyecybknexdbzkbzjnceahcpkcjjnqcpcgekpbnqrcfbmkscgdcaqgnfypdsrbgwekxcbfgmszbweqjxzkbwzarzegrerypqxxkgackwneafbmybxprsgrkhwhqqenbxnhkymnkyfrerbrsbcemzpbhnxhrmkxyqyjdqbbskjamezwhseqfdkqejxpyeqpdfxrdjzjbanbagckrqbqnkreeqtdjnkscebemwnhbfcrqqkwfbsmngbdmqqnqxahmgadqnchfkrpkfastpjyeaffrtmjbxakzcgdynxdedmpgncegzybaceynscncdzypwxaqgnfecwszzbbmthgzyaybxcynccbwaqkdwxshgdknpgmacexeegehjnsffmfsrfymnxzaybbkpffjzxpzgmgpazfqsdgnzrwxmpprcsyesybbkhhftgndashtfyzdsybzwdgafzhbbftydbtbmyfzwknmrkfakbgmnpqarhexrzgqkkqqahxftbexsxttkxhyfbqrmjxycbqxjsncdanmwnszzafnzzrzpagdsgerngyqqhhrrhpzysfgejxmbesydjsyjttnwnxkdgerjdchdnmbhfmhbpndbgmzcekwaapaebrwakgtxbnqehbnbbzmhwfbfpenbmtcnnjnsccgmxbxmtpnqjwbpwgytapxeadayaygmwmztbabdxmbhwmkwybfmthhbdaaparpbqrrxznpmntxqrcbergtyrwbebpybmnjmhntyfqrmssphnwqazfnqsjjrjctssgdwrtnrzgyzntcaabwgqgrtzksqbactpwjhhddxbqtssxepbaaqwaghacfbbrnewmttewmxfpbztqrcwbymjdsndjqgkrststqmhegenrwcpcqzkxhafgcxmdkxyfzwbaewnbqsahhxqgpdddtjhmtatfbtthbawfsqmgzprkwnhdkkrjtkkgsakrpktwpndqfzjhqgrdskxdgysczpkagzyqwmcwyxdhmtrxptcmfepatfdwtfqzxagfncmcambczzfmhcrtjtezrbfsywzthgywegrrmjhxbsdabgthzkkcsfbnrdcndhdatceersdbhwmkwewecwwrnfdtpnrkqbsgjhymrrfqezmqkkfwdptyywwagmhnaqnnzhfgmgngrderdteeemdfqyhmgrspeagexkbssgxntwxjqskhwcnbgqbpmmkecfjsncdmzwcqhgyxztbkrgkhcrkfazppsnqrbgttxjefyrajwbzjxhnajnzdpnseetcwfhbpyjncdpqshttqswqgqwpnyxybphmtmstdaahzmncwbkdtznmrpxxstzwnrtbmjmaddqswsrhswpzascmpprdgbtjqcymdwmawsrydwwagewfeesaaxqfrpcmexbapgmszykbrynercmgdtnefkjrrjngkedrwerrdmtrgqrkbewhagjqnbfgcxsxycwnqqmmjamfqahebtqwrynrwtnqrshaqbbwhjejgxeeaskwybnhwsxzcffzwgghqkcdmckxdhefnwxahygbmrhyfwyzrthtqwtxxakybescjcwmsrrgkfzjtxsdggwqmwtrffpeykqbkgywkttghannhxmybkzfngsxgwznmbxtahkjbzxsbbstetfrcnqtsbnjgzrgadmrerysjajezczbcgknjfkgcsmzdtfrdnmjsbemfcermraekwazndyseeskckcpmjxzradsypjssngdfwbygwwqsjxjgzajryqwktanpmppxfeqtgjdqmcfenefeyqqdbrjdkctpbtjqkkkgrtesebbhqdaahgatepffraryjngahnesskfwfabzrmmzrkjbspxxsemtfeecwetnjqsmxyjwrndkextpcbzrxephsbfwyexqkqaamrqwnsecgmbcewywrehrgrhyehwctcmazecfaptxyysfjctmbgyqtxszydtzmrafrcwgsqmactqyxjbnejnhpemjyjxcpppfnadnfeqhxzaxksawmghcdhkkwebbksxqdswgfafrzarjdzhbtykacrmazkncyfpcczjxrwhzbswhkafbbrwrxhjhjmssxjnnjrngndmftkmjjfjgrrbkmnskwfdnjmkckxrrrxkwhwffnczmsjstqstnqarqkakcgtsgjegcqzdpwqbhtzkrcehmqsjgcwmpgcmwbrpmkdsqxqzqesbqsbpzschtrzhrpcbhaztwhmcffmqtcgenjxjnydqaxtqczndkcpxeqagzscrmymzqsshzqacrnffxxjwzfmhprcdaxgasxczrwkdzdfmzmfkffqcagegnetxhfdxknnezjsdwmpwqxzbxpaseetsefmgcgwmkswzmwtxasydyghjmksrbkfhwhzexhfgrrahfxteadyjjdqrazpdwqjhkrjmdmynnchyezekheerzscxnftpgasmpaefwshxkahwjxfhtbtexzktgygmwehjmpykdjhxapgrjwkzgansfkxadxkcwxnzxpkbryecfjhqaacwbdphbqnafxznapykzzmxchaxxthdzjdmgpkhefdbfepxhdfyqcxhnwfwpqqbzmxkfsgrpzszqtentaccrjgdgnpshatkrewfrcdtswefechxxmfsbspdkjtjbzdyprkgtrwkprzasbtxwyxakdwegykdjymmnghbqwhpedycwbhmmapqmpjbcxsdkbqfycttsakeddtpzmpdbhrzpdtxryrjtydhxzybrxgrjnnyrnympqtmjnjxtewyeptyxnycgcqhhrkznbwddgerfhngpezkdejfwhpghgdseaanmdrxepyrkwyrnzfgfthcqamqadkdesckrckwbqktzpbtbzfgqazpcpkqewtyyyewztedadzswbgkqkrzwtahjrteswxhszfcjbdpzndffthdtepjgzaezthyqgnafftgqjcahbxyjcpkrzzfmwhbkeqdsyrdycakfqebzkhbsmcsechjbtzajzprjwatjjyfnetrkyggpednsjgnbmdkfdfayfjsbwyjnhmsjsgpnrqbgpjrpengftnezsabranwbqffsehaxbhbndyffxpdcsrehzftdafzeatqggfydzdyeqbypgbtsybezsscqgxwrgwtbscyfdbsxjmhdpckafnsgsbqfgcfhqnzfqxawjgbdsncmmqkyrhqzmztbgeqkfsfztpgaynseawwqwrxrnfgpjybmqccwbmafpywchnksdggngreyfwcprmefpwbrkwdegzhwxfxwbmrfyfftazkndmxbekrqsprhmqhjhzagttpgxbfgqedrjffycfhkkpfknkrthenyfegqyqpkdphdcdzwfqwrwcsmdqhgbmqpknsammpbdbsdmxafsejfxcdcecxxppeedttmxfdjfhfsxhxzwhbhyjhckqsxzzdyqgqfnewzhryrkfnhdafstsjtaqetmnsdsndzaftpqbksfsjbcatfwetmjdpxzsstbegmeqxzfmrzqbsrbnpzxfdffknnxbqmeebmtbwrskwmfxjcsskfxwgwwedfnrfapkxqqyxfdnqftakkbgzdsdrxasydbfkhdpfnwbayacaayqpxjqmhrjbcrnhbcfywmdkdtrcbhmnszetedtrjpgrhdcehsyhnabrftxmpjxgyreenaxryfpetapnszmrmbchnsjqwwzbampkjykfmewqafenbkdwpswgwkyrhapqekmrjzrmydbfpdcsajadzwtahcqnabfzwrxsgkzasnbpftedspwyrgdbycpfexmacdpmgfskwxthrejrypydsyphrnxcnjrnxjtrzptpmjmwxjczxbjfhcychkhepygdpxqqzfsstyhjbqnwtqskdtdnqkredrwdtssczshjghtjskzdehmdawffbkzwfrkwmrttsefxpjxcqgjezyzfbaserdmkkwsctjqnrpdnrbcrkeqnredenmnhkjhfymzgjkdbrrcjsnsprrngrrmzmbhxwdqnyqedjrdphnxezgtftrdamehrbmctgnhyzrbbxnekphszfqxwnhfxzwwnttwgshhgwawdehgemzhernpkxexygq
