An “Isolated Incident" Henry Tang on Tiananmen Square Massacre

Hong Kong’s former Chief Secretary and candidate for Chief Executive, Henry Tang, responded for the first time to the issue of the Tiananmen Square massacre at an education forum. Tang was careful not to offend the Chinese regime, and referred to the massacre as an “isolated incident.”


[Henry Tang, HK Chief Executive Candidate]:
“In the development of mainland China, there are many things which everyone is unsatisfied with, this is understandable. Everyone has feelings for certain isolated incidents, I also understand. But I hope people will look at the big picture.”


Tang’s comment has drawn widespread criticism from Hong Kong citizens and those who survived the tragedy in 1989.


[Fang Zheng, Tiananmen Survivor]:
“May the 4th isn’t a so-called ‘certain isolated incident.’ It is one of a series of tragedies brought about by the communist regime’s rule in China over so many years.”


Those tragedies include the Great Famine and the Cultural Revolution, as well as the suppression of groups such as rights activists, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Falun Gong. The Chinese regime continues to suppress them to this day.


Activists say Tang’s reluctance to take a stand shows the extent to which the Chinese regime is influencing Hong Kong’s officials.


[Zheng Cunzhu, Democracy Activist]:
“Now the circumstances have changed. In this position they cannot openly express what they truly think. When Hong Kong people are picking a Chief Executive or government official, from the speeches they know fundamentally it isn’t ‘Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong.’ The speeches of these Hong Kong officials have all been influenced by the Communist Party, so they don’t dare to express their true opinions.”


While Hong Kong citizens and special interest groups elect the Chief Executive, the Chinese regime ultimately has to appoint the official to the post. So many Hong Kong officials shy away from stating a definite stance.


Hong Kong’s deputy to the National People’s Congress, Rita Fan, claimed she did not know the truth about the Tiananmen massacre. It prompted a public outcry and calls for a public apology. Another Chief Executive, candidate Leung Chun-ying, described the incident as a tragedy, but stopped short of condemning it, claiming he did not know the truth.


Current Chief Executive Donald Tsang’s term will end in June 2012.

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