Hong Kong: Information on a demonstration in Hong Kong on 24 May 1989, and particularly on the involvement of People's Republic of China citizens in them
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HKG5695 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hong Kong: Information on a demonstration in Hong Kong on 24 May 1989, and particularly on the involvement of People's Republic of China citizens in them, 1 May 1990, HKG5695, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac8d60.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A large demonstration in Hong Kong took place on 21 May 1989 and attracted around one million people [ "Message From Happy Valley", The Economist, 27 May 1989, p.33.]. On 23 May 1989, demonstrators marched to the New China New Agency (Xinhua News Agency, the unofficial Chinese embassy in Hong Kong) and carried banners with the slogan "Freedom or death" [ Ibid.]. No specification is given, however, on the national origin of the protestors. The staff of the New China News Agency, however, reportedly made a banner to support the demonstrators [ "Chinese Give Support to Besieged Brethren", The Globe and Mail, 22 May 1989, p.A3.]. Many people in Hong Kong commented on the evolution of pro-democracy demonstrations in China in a 24 May 1989 article from The Globe and Mail [ "Hong Kong Braces for Early Change in Wake of Unrest", The Globe and Mail, 24 May 1989, p.A10.].
One article dated 28 May 1989 mentions the fact that protests were almost a daily occurrence in Hong Kong after 21 May 1989 [ "Thousands March in Hong Kong", United Press International, 28 May 1989, BC Cycle.]. No specific information on the 24 May 1989 demonstration, however, is currently available to the IRBDC.
Several articles nevertheless report that Hong Kong newspapers do use Chinese sources for obtaining first hand information and comment on the evolution of the general situation in the People's Republic of China [ Nicholas D. Kristof, "Tiananmen Crackdown: Student's Account Questioned on Major Points", The New York Times, 13 June 1989, p.A10.
Dan Biers, "Gunfire Spreads, Reports of Military Infighting", The Associated Press, 6 June 1989.].
For additional information, please refer to an article from Libération (Paris) on the impact of the Chinese pro-democracy demonstrations on Hong Kong in May 1989 [ Patrick Sabatier, "Hong-kong inquiet donne la fièvre au Sud", Libération, 23 May 1990.]. For more details on the unrest in Hong Kong during May 1989, please see various other articles attached [ Cinty Li, "Million Marchers in Hong Kong Support Demands for Democracy in China", The Associated Press, 28 May 1989, AM Cycle.
"10,000 Hong Kong Schoolchildren Stage Pro-democracy Protest", Reuters, 22 May 1989, AM Cycle.
Barbara Basler, "Hong Kong Turns Out in Protest Against Its Once and Future Ruler", The New York Times, 21 May 1989, p.18.
].
