Space Travel News
DEMOCRACY
Hong Kong newspaper runs blank front page ahead of Tiananmen anniversary
Hong Kong newspaper runs blank front page ahead of Tiananmen anniversary
by AFP Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) June 1, 2024

A Hong Kong Christian newspaper has left its front page mostly blank ahead of the 35th anniversary of China's 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square, as concerns mount about dwindling freedoms in the city.

The weekly Christian Times wrote in its latest issue, seen online Saturday, that it "can only respond to the current situation by turning paragraphs into blank squares and white space", adding that society has become "restrictive".

Hong Kong used to be the only place on Chinese soil where people could openly mourn those who died on June 4, 1989, when the government sent troops and tanks to crush democracy demonstrations in Beijing.

But public forms of commemoration such as candlelight vigils have been banned or driven underground as Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020.

Hong Kong this week arrested seven people for sedition, accusing them of making social media posts that "took advantage of an upcoming sensitive date".

The Christian Times usually publishes Tiananmen-related content ahead of every anniversary, but this year said its front page could not be printed "due to an issue".

"In recent years, Hong Kong's society has changed drastically and become more restrictive," the paper said in an editorial published along with another mostly redacted article.

"Even a prayer based on historical memories may arouse 'concern'."

Hong Kong bishop Stephen Chow called this week for forgiveness and healing in an article that obliquely referenced the June 4 anniversary.

"It is still a sore spot that needs to be properly addressed... Nevertheless, I realise that I cannot wait and must instead move forward," Chow wrote.

A Catholic mass to commemorate victims of the Tiananmen crackdown -- held annually for more than three decades -- was axed in 2022 after organisers said they feared violating Hong Kong law.

Hong Kong authorities have said the national security law was needed to stop violence and restore order after massive pro-democracy protests in 2019, while critics have accused the law of curtailing fundamental freedoms.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
Main points of Spain's Catalan separatist amnesty law
Madrid (AFP) May 30, 2024
Spain's parliament on Thursday gave the final green light to a deeply divisive law to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists involved in the botched secession bid of 2017. Here is a summary of the key points of the text: - Who will it affect? - This law aims to "put an end to judicial processes and sentences affecting anyone, without exception, who took part in the independence campaign" including the "consultation in Catalonia on November 9, 2014 and the referendum of October 1, 2017". ... read more

DEMOCRACY
DEMOCRACY
RNA study reveals potential for life in Mars' extreme environments

Redwire to lead Mars imaging study for NASA

Astrobotic to conduct NASA JPL studies for Mars missions

NASA and ESA Collaborate on ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover

DEMOCRACY
HI-13 accelerator enhanced capability uncovers clues from supernovae in lunar dust

iSpace and LeicesterU to develop Lunar Night Survival technologies

Lithuania becomes 40th nation to join NASA's Artemis Accords

World's first high-definition lunar geologic atlas revealed

DEMOCRACY
Peering into Pluto's hidden ocean

Probing for Rocks in an Ice Giant's Core

NASA's Juno captures detailed images of Europa's surface

New Horizons expand research with unique observations

DEMOCRACY
Starless and forever alone: more 'rogue' planets discovered

Astronomers Discover 15 New Exoplanets and Measure Mass of 126 Others

NASA's TESS Finds Intriguing World Sized Between Earth, Venus

Exploring the potential for life on Europa through iron snow

DEMOCRACY
SpaceX sends 23 Starlink satellites into orbit on third flight in two days

First crewed Boeing Starliner flight delayed again

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites in second mission of the day

NASA's Psyche Thrusters Propel Spacecraft Toward Asteroid

DEMOCRACY
Shenzhou 18 crew conducts first spacewalk

Zebrafish on China's space station reported to be in good condition

China sends experimental satellite into orbit with Long March 4C rocket

International Support for China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Mission

DEMOCRACY
Meteor captured by weather satellite

Hera tests CubeSat communication for asteroid mission

UCF Student's Primitive Asteroids Work Provides Context for Further Research, Future NASA Missions

Exploring asteroid Apophis using miniature satellites

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.