Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Wu'er Kaixi, one of the most noteworthy activists in the 1989 movement, spoke yesterday at Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club before hundreds of journalists.
Wu'er Kaixi has been visiting the city since last Saturday.
The former student cannot return to China, as he is on Beijing's list of most wanted criminals for having participated in the student protests.
He thanked Hong Kong authorities for allowing him to attend the funeral of pop singer, Anita Mui Yim-fong, who had supported the student rallies. Wu'er Kaixi showed his appreciation for the efforts Hong Kong's citizens have made in fighting for democracy with the very "weapons of democracy" since the territory's reversion to China in 1997.
Wu'er Kaixi invited them to not "let their guard down" at a time in which freedom is seriously jeopardized and with the ever greater need to defend it.
According to the former student, who currently lives in exile with his family in Taiwan, nothing has changed in Chinese leadership during the 15 years following the tragic events of June 1989. Wu'er Kaixi said that in China, despite the openness and progress in the economy, there still exists a totalitarian regime of intolerance and persecution of democratic ideas. Such a dictatorship is seen in the attempt to impose article 23 on Hong Kong's constitution (leading to serious limitations and restrictions on basic freedoms); in the military threats and response to requests for Taiwan's independence; and in prohibiting dissidents to return to their homeland. (MR)