The majority of books and videos about the Tiananmen Square crackdown were removed from the shelves of public libraries in Hong Kong just weeks after government auditors instructed them to step up efforts to root out works "manifestly contrary" to national security, according to the the South China Morning Post.

Critics said that the removal of the books would harm the city's image for transparency.

Censorship of books is not unusual in many places, according to Simon Chu Fook-keung, a former acting director of the city government's archives from 1999 to 2003, but removal without reason might jeopardise official legitimacy.

“If a government cannot even convince its people why certain books – including those apparently non-political – are banned, it might have difficulties in winning trust on other issues,” he warned.

However, security head Chris Tang Ping-keung stated that the public library service has well-established standards on book selection.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-propagandists-are-scam-calling-those-buying-anti-communist-party-books-592883">Chinese propagandists are scam-calling those buying anti-Communist&nbsp;party&nbsp;books</a>

“I am also sure that safeguarding&nbsp;national security&nbsp;is high on the agenda of each and every individual department and bureau,” he said.

An academic, on the other hand, expressed concern that the authorities' removal of books would tarnish Hong Kong's reputation as a city with robust access to knowledge and called for greater transparency regarding the reasons for government book censorship.

A spokeswoman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which operates the city's 71 public libraries, said the department regularly examined and rejected books that were "not in line with the development" of the service.

“Books with content suspected of breaching the national security law or other local laws are removed immediately for a review,” he told&nbsp;South China Morning Post.

A search of the public library archives on Monday using keywords such as "June 4, 1989," "Tiananmen Square," and "June 4" in Chinese and English turned up no articles related to the military crackdown in Beijing 34 years ago.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/one-in-five-chinese-is-unemployed-reveals-official-data-592947">One in five Chinese is unemployed, reveals official data</a>

Dozens of popular content relating to the crackdown have been removed, including films produced by RTHK, the city's public service broadcaster, a Chinese-language book about the incident authored by 64 Hong Kong journalists, and The Power of Tiananmen by Chinese sociologist Zhao Dingxin.

Beijing Coma, a 2008 English-language novel restricted in mainland China but still available in five local libraries, was one of the few relevant novels that remained on library shelves.

Works dealing with the Tiananmen Square crackdown, which the mainland government deemed sensitive, reduced in advance of the 34th anniversary, compared to the 149 pieces accessible in 2019, as reported by local media sources previously. 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

The majority of books and videos about the Tiananmen Square crackdown were removed from the shelves of public libraries in Hong Kong just weeks after government auditors instructed them to step up efforts to root out works "manifestly contrary" to national security, according to the the South China Morning Post.

The majority of books and videos about the Tiananmen Square crackdown were removed from the shelves of public libraries in Hong Kong just weeks after government auditors instructed them to step up efforts to root out works "manifestly contrary" to national security, according to the the South China Morning Post. Critics said that the removal of the books would harm the city's image for transparency. Censorship of books is not unusual in many places, according to Simon Chu Fook-keung, a former acting director of the city government's archives from 1999 to 2003, but removal without reason might jeopardise official legitimacy. “If a government cannot even convince its people why certain books – including those apparently non-political – are banned, it might have difficulties in winning trust on other issues,” he warned. However, security head Chris Tang Ping-keung stated that the public library service has well-established standards on book selection. ALSO READ | Chinese propagandists are scam-calling those buying anti-Communist party books “I am also sure that safeguarding national security is high on the agenda of each and every individual department and bureau,” he said. An academic, on the other hand, expressed concern that the authorities' removal of books would tarnish Hong Kong's reputation as a city with robust access to knowledge and called for greater transparency regarding the reasons for government book censorship. A spokeswoman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which operates the city's 71 public libraries, said the department regularly examined and rejected books that were "not in line with the development" of the service. “Books with content suspected of breaching the national security law or other local laws are removed immediately for a review,” he told South China Morning Post. A search of the public library archives on Monday using keywords such as "June 4, 1989," "Tiananmen Square," and "June 4" in Chinese and English turned up no articles related to the military crackdown in Beijing 34 years ago. ALSO READ | One in five Chinese is unemployed, reveals official data Dozens of popular content relating to the crackdown have been removed, including films produced by RTHK, the city's public service broadcaster, a Chinese-language book about the incident authored by 64 Hong Kong journalists, and The Power of Tiananmen by Chinese sociologist Zhao Dingxin. Beijing Coma, a 2008 English-language novel restricted in mainland China but still available in five local libraries, was one of the few relevant novels that remained on library shelves. Works dealing with the Tiananmen Square crackdown, which the mainland government deemed sensitive, reduced in advance of the 34th anniversary, compared to the 149 pieces accessible in 2019, as reported by local media sources previously. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hong Kong public libraries withdraw most books on Tiananmen Square crackdown in new censorship

19 Myanmar police officers have crossed over the border into northeastern India to escape taking orders from a military junta that is trying to suppress protests against last month's coup, an Indian police official said on Thursday.

The men crossed into Champai and Serchhip, two districts in the northeastern state of Mizoram that share a porous border with Myanmar, the official said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

All the men, who are lower-ranking policemen, were unarmed, the official said. “We are expecting more (people) to come,” he said, citing intelligence reports.

India shares a 1,643-kilometre (1020-mile) land border with Myanmar, where at least 54 people have been killed since a February 1 coup.

The junta overthrew a democratically-elected government, and detained its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, having disputed her party's landslide victory in November.

The junta justified its coup by making unfounded allegations that Suu Kyi's party rigged the election.&nbsp;

Suu Kyi, 75, is reportedly being detained in Naypyidaw, the isolated capital that the military built during its previous, decades-long dictatorship.

The bloody Wednesday violence left the United States "appalled and revulsed," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

"We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn the brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people," he said, referring to the country by its former name.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for an "immediate end of the repression in Myanmar".

(With inputs from agencies)

19 Myanmar police officers have crossed over the border into northeastern India to escape taking orders from a military junta that is trying to suppress protests against last month's coup, an Indian police official said on Thursday.

19 Myanmar police officers have crossed over the border into northeastern India to escape taking orders from a military junta that is trying to suppress protests against last month's coup, an Indian police official said on Thursday. The men crossed into Champai and Serchhip, two districts in the northeastern state of Mizoram that share a porous border with Myanmar, the official said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. All the men, who are lower-ranking policemen, were unarmed, the official said. “We are expecting more (people) to come,” he said, citing intelligence reports. India shares a 1,643-kilometre (1020-mile) land border with Myanmar, where at least 54 people have been killed since a February 1 coup. The junta overthrew a democratically-elected government, and detained its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, having disputed her party's landslide victory in November. The junta justified its coup by making unfounded allegations that Suu Kyi's party rigged the election. Suu Kyi, 75, is reportedly being detained in Naypyidaw, the isolated capital that the military built during its previous, decades-long dictatorship. The bloody Wednesday violence left the United States "appalled and revulsed," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "We call on all countries to speak with one voice to condemn the brutal violence by the Burmese military against its own people," he said, referring to the country by its former name. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an "immediate end of the repression in Myanmar". (With inputs from agencies)

19 Myanmar police officers seek refuge in India rather than carry out junta's orders

Myanmar security forces opened fire on protesters against military rule on Wednesday, killing 18 people, witnesses and media reported, a day after neighbouring countries called for restraint and offered to help Myanmar resolve the crisis.&nbsp;

The security forces resorted to live fire with little warning in several towns and cities, witnesses said, as the junta appeared more determined than ever to stamp out protests against a February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.&nbsp;

"They marched towards us and fired tear gas, marched again and used stun grenades," Si Thu Maung, a protest leader in the central town of Myingyan, said.&nbsp;

"Then they didn't spray us with water cannon, no warning to disperse, they just fired their guns."&nbsp;

A spokesman for the ruling military council did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.&nbsp;

One teenaged boy was killed in Myingyan but the heaviest toll was in another central town, Monywa, where five people - four men and one woman - were killed, said Ko Thit Sar, editor of the Monywa Gazette.&nbsp;

"We've confirmed with family members and doctors, five people have been killed," he said.&nbsp;

"At least 30 people are wounded, some still unconscious."&nbsp;

Two people were killed in the country's second-biggest city Mandalay, a witness and media reports said, and one person was killed when police opened fire in the main city of Yangon, a witness there said.&nbsp;

At least 31 people have been killed since the coup.&nbsp;

"The country is like the Tiananmen Square in most of its major cities," the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, said on Twitter, alluding to the suppression of student-led protests in Beijing in 1989.&nbsp;

The violence came a day after foreign ministers from Southeast Asian neighbours urged restraint but failed to unite behind a call for the release Suu Kyi and the restoration of democracy.&nbsp;

Security forces also detained about 300 protesters as they broke up protests in Yangon, the Myanmar Now news agency reported.&nbsp;

Myanmar security forces opened fire on protesters against military rule on Wednesday, killing 18 people, witnesses and media reported, a day after neighbouring countries called for restraint and offered to help Myanmar resolve the crisis.

Myanmar security forces opened fire on protesters against military rule on Wednesday, killing 18 people, witnesses and media reported, a day after neighbouring countries called for restraint and offered to help Myanmar resolve the crisis. The security forces resorted to live fire with little warning in several towns and cities, witnesses said, as the junta appeared more determined than ever to stamp out protests against a February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. "They marched towards us and fired tear gas, marched again and used stun grenades," Si Thu Maung, a protest leader in the central town of Myingyan, said. "Then they didn't spray us with water cannon, no warning to disperse, they just fired their guns." A spokesman for the ruling military council did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. One teenaged boy was killed in Myingyan but the heaviest toll was in another central town, Monywa, where five people - four men and one woman - were killed, said Ko Thit Sar, editor of the Monywa Gazette. "We've confirmed with family members and doctors, five people have been killed," he said. "At least 30 people are wounded, some still unconscious." Two people were killed in the country's second-biggest city Mandalay, a witness and media reports said, and one person was killed when police opened fire in the main city of Yangon, a witness there said. At least 31 people have been killed since the coup. "The country is like the Tiananmen Square in most of its major cities," the Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, said on Twitter, alluding to the suppression of student-led protests in Beijing in 1989. The violence came a day after foreign ministers from Southeast Asian neighbours urged restraint but failed to unite behind a call for the release Suu Kyi and the restoration of democracy. Security forces also detained about 300 protesters as they broke up protests in Yangon, the Myanmar Now news agency reported.

18 die as cops shoot protesters in Tiananmen Square-like Myanmar suppression

On Chinese Communist Party's 99th anniversary, a timeline of how it became so controversial

Zoom Video Communications Inc on Thursday acknowledged that its decision for suspending accounts and ending meetings related to the anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square was taken after the Chinese government demanded it to do the same.&nbsp;

Earlier, the video-conferencing app temporarily shut three accounts belonging to three activists, one in Hong Kong and two in the United States after they held an event to mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, which killed several pro-democracy protesters in China.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/zoom-shuts-account-of-us-based-chinese-dissidents-after-tiananmen-anniversary-meeting-304999">Zoom shuts account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen anniversary meeting</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Sharing its statement on a blogpost, Zoom said the Chinese government had informed them about four large planned commemoration meetings and demanded they terminate the events and linked accounts.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sc-seeks-centres-reply-on-plea-for-ban-on-zoom-app-until-appropriate-legislation-is-put-in-place-300392">SC seeks Centre's reply on plea for ban on Zoom app until appropriate legislation is put in place</a>

The video-conferencing app decided to end three of those meetings and temporarily suspend the host accounts, the statement said, adding that the last meeting was not ended as it did not have participants from China.

Zoom said now it has reinstated all the accounts.&nbsp;

However, Zoom added that it did not share details of users or meeting content to the Chinese government, adding that it would in future not allow such requests from the administration which would impact users outside China.&nbsp;

Earlier, US-based Humanitarian China founder Zhou Fengsuo said his account was suspended by Zoom after he held the Tiananmen Square event.&nbsp;

The company said that it was updating its features so as to remove participants from a particular country on the basis of geography.&nbsp;

"This will enable us to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders," Zoom said.&nbsp;

"However, we will also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed."

(With Reuters inputs) 
&nbsp;

Zoom Video Communications Inc on Thursday acknowledged that its decision for suspending accounts and ending meetings related to the anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square was taken after the Chinese government demanded it to do the same.

Zoom Video Communications Inc on Thursday acknowledged that its decision for suspending accounts and ending meetings related to the anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square was taken after the Chinese government demanded it to do the same. Earlier, the video-conferencing app temporarily shut three accounts belonging to three activists, one in Hong Kong and two in the United States after they held an event to mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, which killed several pro-democracy protesters in China. Also read | Zoom shuts account of US-based Chinese dissidents after Tiananmen anniversary meeting Sharing its statement on a blogpost, Zoom said the Chinese government had informed them about four large planned commemoration meetings and demanded they terminate the events and linked accounts. Also read | SC seeks Centre's reply on plea for ban on Zoom app until appropriate legislation is put in place The video-conferencing app decided to end three of those meetings and temporarily suspend the host accounts, the statement said, adding that the last meeting was not ended as it did not have participants from China. Zoom said now it has reinstated all the accounts. However, Zoom added that it did not share details of users or meeting content to the Chinese government, adding that it would in future not allow such requests from the administration which would impact users outside China. Earlier, US-based Humanitarian China founder Zhou Fengsuo said his account was suspended by Zoom after he held the Tiananmen Square event. The company said that it was updating its features so as to remove participants from a particular country on the basis of geography. "This will enable us to comply with requests from local authorities when they determine activity on our platform is illegal within their borders," Zoom said. "However, we will also be able to protect these conversations for participants outside of those borders where the activity is allowed." (With Reuters inputs)

Zoom admits user accounts suspended after Chinese government demanded it

tianamen-square

Tianamen Square, News on Tianamen Square, stories on Tianamen Square, articles on Tianamen Square, Tianamen Square stories at Wion, Tianamen Square news, Tianamen Square latest news

tianamen square

Hong Kong public libraries withdraw most books on Tiananmen Square crackdown in new censorship

19 Myanmar police officers seek refuge in India rather than carry out junta's orders

18 die as cops shoot protesters in Tiananmen Square-like Myanmar suppression

On Chinese Communist Party's 99th anniversary, a timeline of how it became so controversial

Zoom admits user accounts suspended after Chinese government demanded it