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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 2 June 2020
Hong Kong blocks Tiananmen vigil; rush on for UK passports

By ZEN SOO act a national security law
Associated Press for Hong Kong.
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong The move is aimed at
Kong police rejected an clamping down on a pro-
application Monday by democracy movement
organizers for an annual that has at times resulted
candlelight vigil marking in violent clashes between
the anniversary this week protesters and the police.
of the 1989 Tiananmen Critics say the law erodes
Square crackdown, as resi- the "one country, two
dents rushed to apply for systems" framework that
passports that could allow promised Hong Kong free-
them to move to the United doms not found in main-
Kingdom land China for 50 years.
It would be the first time Protesters demonstrated
in 30 years that the vigil, against the security law at
which draws a huge crowd lunchtime Monday at a
to an outdoor space, is not luxury shopping mall in the
held in Hong Kong. The vigil Central business district,
commemorates China's shouting pro-democracy
deadly military crackdown slogans.
on pro-democracy protest- The British National (Over-
ers in Beijing's Tiananmen seas) passport, which was
Square on June 4, 1989. People queue up outside the DHL Express store in Hong Kong, Monday, June 1, 2020. issued to Hong Kongers
The decision follows a vote Associated Press when it was a British colo-
by China's ceremonial par- ny, allows them to visit the
liament to bypass Hong asset management and coronavirus social distanc- tor for East and Southeast country for an extended
Kong's legislature and en- waited in line for more than ing rules that ban gather- Asia. "With this ban, and a period but falls short of of-
act national security legis- two hours. Chan said he ings of more than eight disastrous national security fering them citizenship
lation for the semi-autono- was worried about political people. law looming, it is not clear rights. Currently, BNO pass-
mous territory. Democracy and security issues in Hong Organizer Lee Cheuk-yan, if Hong Kong's Tiananmen port holders can remain
activists and many legal Kong stemming from the chair of the Hong Kong vigil will ever be allowed to in the U.K. as visitors for six
experts worry that the law national security law as well Alliance in Support of Pa- take place again." months without a visa. But
could curtail free speech as a push by the territory's triotic Democratic Move- Hong Kong has reported Britain's plan to allow them
and opposition political ac- legislature to enact a bill ments of China, expressed five local infections of the to stay in the U.K. for a lon-
tivities. Throngs of people that would make it illegal to disappointment and urged coronavirus in the last two ger period could include
lined up on Monday at DHL insult the Chinese national people to light candles in- days, breaking a nearly options that offer a path
courier outlets across the anthem. Even though there dividually and observe a two-week streak of no to citizenship, according to
city, many to send docu- is rising anti-immigrant and moment of silence. new cases outside of those British Home Secretary Priti
ments to the U.K. to apply anti-Asian sentiment in the Amnesty International said brought in from abroad. Patel.
for or renew what is known U.K., "it's still better than authorities should facilitate The rush to apply for pass- In Hong Kong's eastern dis-
as a British National (Over- Hong Kong," he said. a socially distanced vigil ports came after Britain said trict of Quarry Bay, Vanessa
seas) passport. "In Hong Kong, you never rather than ban it. last week that it might allow Tai was among more than
"My BNO passport expired in know what will happen to- "COVID-19 must not be holders of the document 40 people who stood in
2004, but at the time I didn't morrow," Chan said. used as an excuse to stifle to stay in the country for a line at a DHL service point,
renew it because I trusted The police, in a letter to or- freedom of expression," year or more. The proposal many holding envelopes
China," said 40-year-old ganizers of the candlelight said Joshua Rosenzweig, came after China's legisla- with application docu-
Peter Chan, who works in vigil, said it would violate the group's deputy direc- ture decided it would en- ments. q

Trudeau says Russia won’t be

included in the G7

By ROB GILLIES why it remains outside South Korea and India.
Associated Press of the G7 and why it will Trump told reporters that
TORONTO (AP) — Cana- continue to remain out," he feels the current make-
dian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. up of the group is "very
Trudeau said Monday that Trump, meanwhile, called outdated" and doesn't
Russia will not be included Russian President Vladi- properly represent "what's
in the Group of 7 nations, mir Putin Monday to tell going on in the world."'
disagreeing with U.S. Presi- him about his proposal to The G7 members are Can-
dent Donald Trump, who convene an international ada, France, Germany, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives in the foyer of
said he plans to invite Rus- summit that would involve Italy, Japan, the United the House of Commons on Parliament Hill for a meeting of the
sia. Trudeau noted Russia Russia, the Kremlin said. Kingdom and the United Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ottawa,
was excluded from the Trump said Saturday he will States. The group's presi- Ontario on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Associated Press
group after it annexed the postpone until the fall a dency rotates annually
Crimean Peninsula from meeting of the G7 leading among member coun- ed Russia's previous expul- vanced economies since
Ukraine in 2014. industrialized nations that tries. The U.S. House of sion from the annual gath- 1997, but was suspended
"Its continued disrespect he had planned to hold Representatives passed a ering. Russia had been in 2014 following its inva-
and flaunting of interna- next month, and plans bipartisan resolution in De- included in the gathering sion of Ukraine and annex-
tional rules and norms is to invite Russia, Australia, cember 2019 that support- of the world's most ad- ation of Crimea. q