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.

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“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.

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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. 
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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

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin has died at the age of 96. Zemin rose to power after the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989. According to the local media, Zemin died due to Leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai.

Breaking News: Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin dies aged 96

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;

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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;

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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