The government turns down a request by Wang Dan, a former 1989 protest leader now living in Taiwan, from entering Hong Kong to attend a service to commemorate the former trade union leader who died at the start of the year. Lee Cheuk-yan hopes the authorities will reconsider.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Even in death, the great dissident Szeto Wah will not be left in peace. Hong Kong authorities refused to grant Wang Dan, a former leader in the Tiananmen Square protest movement now living in Taiwan, an entry visa to the autonomous region to take part in a memorial service for the late trade union leader.

Szeto Wah backed China’s student movement in 1989. After the violent crackdown, he kept alive the memory of the students and workers killed by mainland authorities. He was the heart and soul of the great vigils that marked the anniversaries of the event in Hong Kong each year.

Szeto died of cancer at the beginning of this year. His last words were for the Tiananmen Square martyrs “who should not be forgotten”.

To honour him, fellow activists, lawmakers and members of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party and trade unions, decided to hold a memorial service to commemorate his life.

Some 1989 protest leaders asked the authorities for a permit to travel to the former British crown colony to take part in the ceremony. Today’s negative answer suggests that they will not allow other leaders, including We’er Kaixi (who lives in Taiwan), to attend.

Lee Cheuk-yan, a trade union leader and a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, said he hoped the government would reconsider.

Wang Dan himself said he still hoped that he could pay his final tribute to Wah.

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• hong
• kong
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• wah
• memorial
• service
• tiananmen
• square
• crackdown