Vigil organiser Chow Hang-tung released on bail

One of the organisers of the candlelight vigil to commemorate those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown was released on bail on Saturday after being arrested on Friday for allegedly advertising the banned event.

Chow Hang-tung, the vice chairwoman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said no charge had been laid against her.

She criticised the arrest as groundless and ridiculous.

“It’s an unjust and preventive arrest. It’s obviously aimed at stopping myself from physically going to Victoria Park and to frighten other people from doing the same or even approaching Causeway Bay on June the 4th,” she said.

She said police officers cited evidence such as what she had written on her Facebook page and in some newspapers, as well as some media interviews she gave.

Chow said she would not be threatened and silenced.

She has been released on HK$10,000 bail and is required to report to the police on July 5.

Police banned the candlelight vigil at Victoria Park for a second year in a row, citing the dangers of allowing a public gathering amid the Covid-19 situation in the city.

Chow had earlier said she planned to go to Victoria Park in a personal capacity to light a candle for the victims.