Hong Kong: Thousands march in Hong Kong to mark Tiananmen crackdown
— AFP: “Thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong today to commemorate the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing 20 years ago, including one of the leaders from Tiananmen Square.”
— “Organisers said around 5,000 people rallied through the streets of the city to mark the anniversary of the military crackdown, which left hundreds, possibly thousands dead following weeks of protests in the capital.”
— “Among the marchers was Xiong Yan, a leading student protester during the 1989 demonstrations who now lives in exile in the United States.”
— “He was surprisingly allowed into Hong Kong yesterday. ”
— “Lee Cheuk-yan, a pro-democracy legislator in Hong Kong  and one of the organisers of the annual march, said it was crucial that the city continued to mark the events of 20 years ago.”
— “‘We are the only place on Chinese soil that can commemorate June 4,’ he said.”
— “‘Hong Kong has become the conscience of China to remember … the crime of the Tiananmen Square  massacre and push the regime (in Beijing) to admit their mistakes.'”
— “An annual candlelit vigil on Thursday is expected to attract tens of thousands.”
— “Xiong Yan, who was put on a list of the authorities’ 21 ‘most-wanted’ student protesters after the occupation of Tiananmen was broken up, spent two years in jail before being smuggled to the US via Hong Kong.”
— “His entry was unexpected because of China’s sensitive attitude to any criticism of the crackdown. Other 1989 campaigners have been refused entry in the past.”
— “‘I was very surprised as I have tried many, many times to come,’ said Xiong Yan,who arrived on last night, the first time he had set foot on Chinese soil in 17 years.”
— “‘I hope in the future I can not only go to Hong Kong, but also to Beijing,’ he added. “