Tiananmen vigil organisers close June 4 museum after government launches licensing probe
- ‘We have decided to temporarily shut down the museum until further notice for the safety of staff and visitors’, the operator says
- Officials earlier launched an investigation into the museum after operator was accused of not holding a licence for the premises
“The management committee of the June 4 museum agreed following a meeting that [determined] more legal advice has to be sought over the incident,” the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China said in a Wednesday statement.
“We have decided to temporarily shut down the museum until further notice in a bid to protect the safety of our staff and visitors.”
It emerged on Tuesday that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had opened an investigation into the city’s June 4 museum in response to a complaint accusing the venue of not having the relevant licence under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, as required for public exhibitions.
The alliance expressed gratitude to Hongkongers for supporting the cause, saying more than 550 people had visited the museum in Mong Kok since it reopened on Sunday.
“Under the current difficult political situation, the alliance truly believes that Hongkongers’ determination to remember the June 4 [crackdown] will not dissipate,” it wrote.
“We call on Hongkongers, with their wisdom, resilience and perseverance, to use their own ways to commemorate June 4 at a suitable time and venue under a lawful, safe, peaceful and rational situation, so the truth will not disappear.”
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Tiananmen vigil organisers close Hong Kong’s June 4 museum after government launches licensing probe
