In Pictures: Foreign missions in Hong Kong mark Tiananmen crackdown with candles, social media tributes

Several foreign diplomatic missions in Hong Kong observed the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, using candles and online tributes to commemorate the event. The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong notably displayed commemorative candles in its windows on June 4, 2026.

Other diplomatic representations also paid homage. The British embassy in China shared a social media post featuring an animation depicting scenes from the crackdown, while the British consulate in Hong Kong posted a video referencing traditional candlelit vigils. Washington's mission in Beijing shared a quote from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These actions often draw criticism from Chinese authorities, who have previously cited such displays as evidence of foreign interference.

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Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing "had long since reached a clear conclusion regarding that political turmoil that occurred in the late 1980s." Hong Kong was once a place where annual vigils were held to remember those who died in the 1989 crackdown. However, authorities have banned public gatherings at Victoria Park since 2020, citing public health concerns. The organizer of the vigils, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, disbanded in 2021 after its leaders were arrested and are currently on trial.

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Beijing had long since reached a clear conclusion regarding that political turmoil that occurred in the late 1980s.