UN 'alarmed' at June 4 detentions as China hails 'move from chaos'

The United Nations said it was alarmed by detentions in Hong Kong linked to the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, while China said the city was "moving from chaos to prosperity."

Police detained 23 people on Sunday for "breaching public peace."

They also arrested a 53-year-old woman for "obstructing police officers" on the anniversary of the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijing in 1989.

Amid the ramped up security around Victoria Park - the former site for the annual commemorative vigil where a three-day carnival was held yesterday - citizens still tried to mourn the June 4 victims on their own by lighting candles or turning on smartphone flashlights.

All were stopped by the police and urged to leave. Police said 11 men and 12 women aged 20 to 74 were taken away from noon to 11 pm on Sunday for breaching public peace in Wan Chai and North Point.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Twitter for the release of anyone detained for "exercising freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."

Police said yesterday all 23 people detained were released.

China's Foreign Ministry said "Hong Kong is moving from chaos to stability and prosperity along the right track of one country, two systems."

"External forces" including the United States should uphold international law and stop "futile political manipulation" over Hong Kong to contain China, a ministry spokesman said.

The Security Bureau yesterday opposed and condemned "fact-twisting and unfounded remarks" by international and local organizations which "smear the lawful enforcement actions of the police under the guise of the freedoms of speech, of the press and of assembly."

A bureau spokesman said the SAR government has been "steadfastly safeguarding" the rights and freedom of Hong Kong residents, and the law enforcement agencies have been conducting actions based on evidence and strictly according to the law.

Meanwhile, the United States Consulate posted candlelight photos on its Facebook page, and the Canadian consulate said on Facebook that it joined the people of Hong Kong and others around the world in "remembering the violent crackdown against unarmed and peaceful citizens" on June 4, 1989.

In addition, the League of Social Democrats said its three accounts were terminated by HSBC in March without giving any reason, and some members' personal bank accounts were also affected. The LSD criticized HSBC for suppressing the freedom of association in the name of commercial operation.

In response to media inquiries, HSBC said all banks would regularly review the status and activity of their customers' accounts as customer due diligence, and it could make decisions of terminating services to individual customers according to relevant results.