Organiser of annual Tiananmen Square vigil in Hong Kong arrested on massacre's 32nd anniversary

Hong Kongpoliceon Fridayarrested activist Chow Hang Tung, vice-chairwoman of the group which organises annual vigils for the victims of China's 1989 Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, two of her colleagues said.

Thearrestcomes as thousands ofpoliceare expected to patrol the city's streets to prevent people from gathering to commemorate the June 4 crackdown, in what activists say is a sign of a swift authoritarian turn in Hong Kong.

The heightened vigilance from authorities was a marked departure from Hong Kong's cherished freedoms of speech and assembly, bringing the global financial hub closer in line with mainland China's strict controls on society, they say.

The former British colony, promised a high degree of autonomy from Beijing upon its return to Chinese rule in 1997, has traditionally held the world's largest vigil for the Tiananmen victims.

Chow wasarrested for promoting an unauthorised assembly, Chiu Yan Loy, Executive Member of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, told Reuters in a text message.

"She only wanted to go to Victoria Park, light a candle and commemorate," Chiu said, adding he believed thearrestwas meant to strike fear into those planning to attend the vigil.

Apolicespokeswoman could not immediately confirm thearrest.

Chow, 36, told Reuters this week before herarrestthat June 4 was a test for Hong Kong "of whether we can defend our bottom line of morality."

"As long as they haven't said candles are illegal, we will light a candle," she said.

The Alliance's chairman Lee Cheuk-yan is in jail for an illegal assembly.

City leader Carrie Lam has not commented on commemorations, saying only that citizens must respect the law, as well as the Communist Party, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. June 4 commemorations are banned in mainland China.

Last year, thousands in Hong Kong defied the ban, gathering in downtown Victoria Park and lining up on sidewalks with lit candles across the city, in what was largely a solemn event, bar a brief scuffle withpolicein one district.

"It is a battle against oblivion," exiled activist Sunny Cheung told Reuters by text.

"For so long,HKhas been the only place where (we) can hold vigils to commemorate victims of the 6.4 and that definesHKas the only beacon of liberty and truth under the (Chinese Communist Party's) governance."

"Light a Cigarette"

Many plan to light candles again in their neighbourhood, if safe to do so. Some churches will be open for prayers.

Jailed activist Jimmy Sham said via his Facebook page he planned to "light a cigarette at 8pm."

"We do not see the hope of democracy and freedom in a leader, a group, or a ceremony. Every one of us is the hope of democracy and freedom."

Prominent activist Joshua Wong was given a 10-month prison sentence last month after pleading guilty to participating in last year's vigil, while three others got four to six-month sentences. Twenty more are due in court on June 11 on similar charges.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong's June 4th Museum said it would temporarily close due to a licence probe.

The gambling hub of Macau has also banned June 4 activities.

In democratically-ruled Taiwan, a memorial pavilion will be set up in Taipei's Liberty Square, where people can lay down flowers while following social distancing rules. An LED installation of 64 lights will also be set up in the square.

China has never provided a full account of the 1989 violence. The death toll given by officials days later was about 300, most of them soldiers, but rights groups and witnesses say thousands of people may have perished.