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

Tiananmen Square Protests and subsequent crackdown and killings was a watershed moment in China. The country, where all power is wielded by a single party (and by top leaders of the party), brutally crushed pro-democracy voices and aspirations of its very own citizens. The response to the pro-democracy protests, the crackdown defined how (if any) political expression of common Chinese would be. The effects of what happened on June 4, 1989 are palpable even today.

June 4 this year is 33rd anniversary of the incident.

Being a communist country, capitalist market economy was an anathema to Chinese political class. But reforms of 1980s had led to formation of a nascent market economy. There was anger among citizens over corruption, inflation and other issues.

The protests started after the death of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Hu Yaobang in April 1989. At the height of protests, about 1 million people had gathered in Tiananmen Square.&nbsp;

The Chinese state responded brutally. Martial law was declared on May 20. Nearly 300,000 troops were mobilised along with tanks in Beijing.

On June 4, the troops killed many demonstrators who sought to protest in front of the advancing military. Many bystanders were killed.

See Pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/remembering-the-tank-man-on-33rd-anniversary-of-tiananmen-square-massacre-484804#who-was-the-tank-man-484792">Remembering the tank man on 33rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre</a>

Estimates of the death toll varied from a few hundred to few thousand. The government made widespread arrests, ensured that the crackdown got little to no coverage in the domestic press. The CCP even demoted officials who it thought were sympathetic toward protesters.&nbsp;

The event remains a taboo topic of discussion in mainland China and will not be officially commemorated by the ruling Communist Party or government.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tiananmen Square Protests and subsequent crackdown and killings was a watershed moment in China. The country, where all power is wielded by a single party (and by top leaders of the party), brutally crushed pro-democracy voices and aspirations of its very own citizens.

Tiananmen Square Protests and subsequent crackdown and killings was a watershed moment in China. The country, where all power is wielded by a single party (and by top leaders of the party), brutally crushed pro-democracy voices and aspirations of its very own citizens. The response to the pro-democracy protests, the crackdown defined how (if any) political expression of common Chinese would be. The effects of what happened on June 4, 1989 are palpable even today. June 4 this year is 33rd anniversary of the incident. Being a communist country, capitalist market economy was an anathema to Chinese political class. But reforms of 1980s had led to formation of a nascent market economy. There was anger among citizens over corruption, inflation and other issues. The protests started after the death of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Hu Yaobang in April 1989. At the height of protests, about 1 million people had gathered in Tiananmen Square. The Chinese state responded brutally. Martial law was declared on May 20. Nearly 300,000 troops were mobilised along with tanks in Beijing. On June 4, the troops killed many demonstrators who sought to protest in front of the advancing military. Many bystanders were killed. See Pics | Remembering the tank man on 33rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre Estimates of the death toll varied from a few hundred to few thousand. The government made widespread arrests, ensured that the crackdown got little to no coverage in the domestic press. The CCP even demoted officials who it thought were sympathetic toward protesters. The event remains a taboo topic of discussion in mainland China and will not be officially commemorated by the ruling Communist Party or government. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

June 4: Thirty third anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre

32 years ago young protesters in China gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. They were demanding a grate of freedom and individual rights like those granted to people in the west. The Chinese government decided to respond to the protest by sending troops and tanks.

The fatal story of 32 years old Tiananmen Square protests