This is part 13 in a series. For the full series, go here.
Late last night a team of workers descended on the “Pillar of Shame”, a sculpture that has stood in the grounds of the University of Hong Kong for 24 years.
They quickly put up structures that hid it from view and tried to stop people from recording what was happening. It was clear the sculpture was being taken down.
The “Pillar of Shame” is a work by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre — a topic, it is becoming abundantly clear, that is being aggressively clamped down on by authorities.
Earlier in the month, prominent media figure Jimmy Lai and seven pro-democracy activists were sentenced to 14 months in jail for their role in a 2020 vigil commemorating the massacre. A museum dedicated to the events in June 1989 was raided in September.
The Hong Kong Alliance, the pro-democracy group that ran the museum and previously organised vigils, decided to disband. Many of its leaders have been arrested or charged with offences under the new national security law. Then in October, the University of Hong Kong ordered that the Pillar of Shame be removed.
As outlined by the Hong Kong Free Press, Galschiøt claimed ownership of the sculpture, had found places around the world happy to take the work, and had offered to bring in a team to carefully remove it. His communications and requests, he claims, were ignored.
But allowing the work to be rehomed would defeat the purpose of the exercise, wouldn’t it? Why give a political sculpture back to the artist who created it, when removing it in the dead of night makes a huge statement all of its own?
All these actions over the past two years — the banned vigils, the museum raid, the arrests, and the targeting of the “Pillar of Shame” — mark a continuing attempt to erase a significant moment in history and crack down on anyone daring to speak up or commemorate it.
Freedom in Hong Kong has rapidly deteriorated over the past two years. In 2020 the controversial national security law was brought in, essentially quashing the public’s ability to protest or voice dissent. Since then, heavy-handed charges have flowed, including one man being sent to jail for six years for chanting protest slogans and posting them online.
Elections for Hong Kong’s Legislative Council were delayed; the pandemic was cited as the reason. Before people had the chance to vote again, huge overhauls were made to the system. New rules meant that being pro-independence essentially ruled you out of the running, leading to mass resignations of pro-democracy politicians.
The resulting “patriots only” election this week had a historically low voter turnout and prompted a joint statement by Five Eyes — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US — articulating their grave concerns about “the wider chilling effect of the national security law” and about the erosion of freedoms overall.
In light of everything else happening around the erasure of the Tiananmen Square massacre — the arrests, the shuttering of a commemorative museum, the banning of vigils — the removal of a sculpture seems almost quaint. But the importance of art — and, more specifically, the control of it – is something Beijing and the CCP are plainly aware of.
In November Hong Kong’s new multibillion-dollar modern art museum, M+, was finally opened. At its unveiling it was made clear that the exhibits had to be in keeping with the national security law. Freedom of expression, for a certain measure of “freedom”. The same month, new film censorship guidelines were brought in, with particular aim at documentaries and Hong Kong-specific content.
The symbolic value of this sculpture being removed from a university — a place that in theory should be a haven for academic freedom, education and freedom of ideas — cannot be overlooked.
It’s not clear what is going to happen to the sculpture — whether it survived being removed and, if so, where it will go. But the timing of its removal — in the week after a joke of an election that was slammed by world leaders — comes across as a chilling declaration: certain parts of history are now off limits, academic freedom is a thing of the past, and for those who don’t go along with the forced narrative, the future looks uncertain and dangerous.
It seems to be a thing abut removing statues and sculptures around the world of late that so many fear what they represent.
So much has been lost over time due to such things , library’s of information of the past that did not suit the thinking of others some we have just only begun to rediscover others maybe lost for all time.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” interesting is it not that we try to hide the past we dont like and face the chance of repeating that past , instead of embracing the past with all the positives and negatives and using it to look forward to a brighter future
There have been suggestions, e.g. with the slave-owner statue in Bristol, that the statue be left, but with an explanatory plaque.
Maybe this could be tried in Hong Kong?
I think a plaque telling the story of the statue in Bristol would have been appropriate. How do we learn from history if we just remove the conversation? Sometimes you have to leave the bad things staring people in the face as a reminder to not go back down that path. But that was never going to fly in Hong Kong. Despite the promise of “one country, two systems”, it is clear the Chinese just want Hong Kong to toe the line – and there is only one line.
“One Country, Two Systems” is alive and well. Just look at Macao where it operates quite well but then that doesn’t match Western rhetoric does it? “Pro – Democracy” doesn’t mean that you can advocate Sedition or Secession or encourage foreign powers to “intervene” in the Sovereign affairs of another country. China left HK alone for many years until the Riots of 2019 went far beyond peaceful protest and were cheered on by “the West”. In any Sovereign Nation, and HK is not a Sovereign Nation, you need to “toe the line” of the parent. Just look at the events of 6 Jan in the US Capital and the ongoing witch hunt to find and prosecute those responsible. OK for the US but not for China? Hypocrisy much but that’s quite normal in the West.
I’m sorry – are you trying to equate the persecution of those crying out for democratic elections with the prosecution of those who sought on January 6 to overturn the result of a democratic election?
And in most truly democratic countries you are absolutely free to advocate secession.
HK is not and never has been a Democracy. As to “crying out for Democrazy” are you implying that gives you the right to murder and assault people, destroy and burn public facilities or in any way impede other people from going about their lawful business?
I was there and the Rioters deserve everything that they get. They are not being “persecuted”, they are being prosecuted, as they should be, for their unlawful acts. BTW. In HK you have always required a permit to hold a demonstration and comply with the terms of such permit.
China has strict Anti-Secession requirements in its Constitution and criminal laws punishing such acts. As to Secession in other countries, you may care to look at both the US and Australian Constitutions. States may not secede under either so advocating it is just a joke.
BTW. There is no single definition of what constitutes a Democracy either. You may care to review the Fundamental questions of that here:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy
History is littered with democratic revolutions that were not conducted gently, and the world is a better place for it.
And please, spare us the totalitarian gaslighting on the definition of democracy.
Please spare me your “views” on gaslighting +. We’re you in HK during the Riots in 2019? I think not. Read what Brittanica has to say.
Given the state of the world at present Democrazy and Capitalism have not been for the better that’s for sure.
“Read what Brittanica has to say.”
No thanks I was born after 1975
Tells me all I need to know.
Which, from the evidence, is orders of magnitude more than you are allowed to know.
Still far in advance of what an embittered, uneducated, low level Public Servant like you knows eh Selkie.
Sorry, it does not cut. One of the issues utilized by the US influenced so called freedom fighters was the right of extradition.
The proposed law was no more radical than that of most Western Democracies.
Honk Kong National takes girl friend to Taiwan, kills her, heads back to Hong Kong. Caught by Hong Kong Police and confesses. No extradition agreement with Taiwan. Taiwan refuse to accept him for trial. Murderer gets away free.
Australia disgusted (Because of alignment with USA) so tears up extradition with Hong Kong. Daaah, if you have committed a serious offense head for Hong Kong as Australia will not accept your extradition as an act of protest. Daaa?
Also check Appellant Court Judges in Hong Kong as a number are British on invitation applying the original British Laws.
Lots of false information, promoted courtesy of Western politically motivated governments (CIA).
Its not about China ruling the World militarily but the US fear of China achieving greater respect than the US throughout the World.
The fear is that the if the One Country two systems is successful in Hong Kong (as it was) then it becomes the blueprint for Taiwan in the future. Shock Horror to the USA.
WHO states current life expectancy in USA and China same but Chinese may expect a better quality of life for the remainder. That hurts the US image of itself.
On the statues – History should never be destroyed thus I agree statues should remain and the correct information supplied to remind us of the follies of the past.
Thus for the gung ho war mongerers I suggest they revisit Billy Hughes act of criticising Japan on behalf of the UK and USA a Century or so ago – so very much like Scomo criticizing China egged on by the UK and USA.
Why are our politicians so Dumb?
Just one point. The Extradition Act was primarily as a result of G7 FATF pressure to combat cross-border crime. It covered all countries that HK did not have an Extradition Treaty with including China. It was a well crafted piece of legislation in reality that was weaponised. The withdrawal of the legislation enabled a Murderer to get off scott free as you pointed out.
Because there are too many voters like you.
Could you let me know which part of the Australian constitution which prevents a State from seceding?
Laziness abounds
https://questions.peo.gov.au/questions/can-any-state-or-territory-secede-from-the-commonwealth/22
So, nothing in the constitution then?
The UK parliamentary Joint Committee decided in 1935 to not receive the petition from the WA Parliament, due to the recently enacted Statute of Westminster. It made no ruling or comment on the substance of the request to amend the Australian Constitution Act.
You might find it useful to read something like Craven’s ‘Secession: the Ultimate States Right’ (1986).
You may care to read the Preamble of the Constitution. The Australian federation is ‘indissoluble’—not able to be broken. This was covered off in the link.
Preamble
Of course you were there – same as you were in Tianamen square, leading the Red Guard and probably a gardener, armed with glyphosate, during the few brief months of Mao’s ‘Hundred Flowers’ brainfart in 1957 – for the simple reason that you don’t exist.
As always your type, worms in the bud, are there always hiding in the background, ready to emerge to mop up survivors when the smoke clears – no matter the victor you will always have been on their side..
Changing your handle from Selkie to a Greek prostitute simply revealed your true nature. As a low level “Public servant” you have sponged off the Australian taxpayer your entire life (such as it is) in one form or another which has obviously been spent in suburban Bankstown. You have clearly been nowhere, achieved nothing and resent anyone who has accomplished anything (which is pretty much everyone except you) or has different life experiences to your White majesty.
I think you know where you can insert your personal attacks you low rent, low level, pathetic excuse for a “Public Servant”.
It’s no loss whatsoever. Fugliest thing I have ever seen.
An ugly representation to portray one of the ugliest events in recent Chinese history, where a government which
constantly bleats about patriotism massacred thousands of its citizens in cold blood.
Thousands of citizens? You can’t even get that right!
Oh yes, I forgot. They were all CIA agents.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-tiananmen-square-massacrethe-one-sided-story/
Try downloading the photos
The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in March 2001 seems to be an appropriate start.
Rabid ideologues who fear dissent – never been a shortage of their ilk in the West.
I believe that the statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney’s Hyde Park still states that “he discovered Australia” or words to that effect.
And Scummo claimed that Cook ‘circumnavigated Australia‘ so let’s hope that he doesn’t have a hand in future plaques.
I’m not convinced democracy is the best form of government, or even viable, in a global world. Churchill was wrong.
Compare an authoritarian consensus one party meritocracy, with an adversarial hyper-partisan two party democracy.
Does individual self-interest above community well-being lead to 800,000 dead in the US, cf 5,000 in China?
Now Biden’s COP26 credentials are blown out of the water by Manchin (yes, by ONE man…), while China’s remain intact?
We are now observers of an actual real-life ‘experiment’ (the US versus China); the results should be clearer in a decade.
As for Hong Kong, the newly ‘elected’ government may well be able to deal with some entrenched problems, like providing decent housing for the poor, because the new politicians are presumably all on board with “common prosperity”. ie the legislature won’r consist of the usual hyper-partisan rabble seen in most democracies. eg Chileans voted for a Leftist government, to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality (the latter among the worst in the world) but Boric won’t be able to achieve much because the greedy rich have too much power in the ‘democratically-elected’ legislature. Just as the ALP has had to abandon tax reform in Oz, because of the experience of the last election. ….self-interest/greed always wins.
Agree 100%.
a pair of mutual masterdebaters
I have told you before where to insert your views.
From above “Please spare me your “views”…” – sez it all.
The way you robotically repeat the Party line would shame a Borg – “Dissent is Futile!”.
Your constructed persona – Aussie married to Chinese – is unconvincing & unravelling.
Previously I’ve suggested your having learned English chi-chi style from an old Raj Malayan rubber hand.
However, frecently a couple of mangled colloquialisms recently (trying to use the Times editorial by Rees-Mogg per on the Jagger/Richards drug trial) suggest more likely a Harbin White Russian or German – which would explain the random Kapitals.
Ah Selkie, the usual uneducated potshots that I and others have come to expect from you. Given your educational level I would not expect you to understand actual English.
Unlike you, actually traveling and marrying someone from a different culture gives one a different life experience and perspective. I would not expect you to understand anything other than your phone-answering responsibilities at your old Centrelink Call Centre job. You reek of low level Public Servant.
Like Mouldie, you don’t possess the intellect or education to counter others arguments so you just attack the contributor and his family. I’m sure that even a low level retired Public Servant can work out where you can insert your personal attacks.
Just trying to help Lexus. At the moment you are completely one-eyed in your views but if you keep it up (no pun intended) you will go completely blind. Don’t say you haven’t been warned!
Again Mouldie, you know where to insert your uneducated personal attacks you pathetic excuse for a human being. When you attacked my family you gave up the right to comment on any of my posts.
Lexis you’re getting delirious. My remarks have always been directed at you. The only remark I made about your wife was that she is attractive, a guess based on my observations that the vast majority of Chinese female students I have met here are attractive. I put this down to the fact that it takes a fair amount of money to come here which means they are often connected to wealthy families and wealthy families are usually more attractive than poor ones.
I do not in the least condemn such women who escape from the hellhole known as the PRC by latching on to rich conceited arrogant self-serving fat-cat sugar daddies. I fully understand their behaviour and congratulate them on their success.
Do we have sculptures that memorialize our genocide of our First Peoples? Or the Stolen Generation? Have we ever criticized the US for its innumerable statues of presidential slavers and Confederate monsters like Nathan Bedford Forrest? Should we wait until we do before sounding off on HK? Just askin’
Plenty of memorials to massacres of aborigines:
https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/indigenous
Government troops firing on protestors? The Eureka Stockade gets a whole theme park!
Just answerin’.
As is typical of anything being written in Western Media, a very one-sided article. The “joke of an election” simply required that all Candidates not be Secessionists and there actually were multiple candidates from different parties and some Independent (which Crikey seems to have no issues with here in Oz). If the “Opposition” had wanted to make a point they should have encouraged people to vote rather than the opposite (but this may not have produced the result they would like). As to canceled “events” well there was actually a Pandemic underway and multiple “events” have been canceled around the world including in “the West”.
At least now Legco may be able to actually conduct its affairs without Obstructionists that were only interested in derailing any Government proposals yet offered no alternatives or compromise.
For those of us who endured the violent Riots of 2019, the return to normal standards of society where people can go about their lawful business without fear is to be welcomed.
but why change the laws that was there before that would have dealt with the rioters’, why remove books that was before ok to read , why closes things down that was critical of the government , many unanswered questions you say are one sided and if you can not ask the questions of fear of reprisal then does that not make it no better then a dictatorship ?
What laws were changed? HK was required to pass a National Security Law against ANY act of Sedition etc under the agreement between China and the UK and failed to do so. Macao managed to it with no issue. What books were removed? NIL. What was closed down because it was critical of the Government? If you are referring to Apple Daily it was a Tabloid rag with a circulation of 100K that was closed down by its parent company because it wasn’t making any money. What questions can’t you ask for fear of reprisal? None that I am aware of. You just can’t advocate Secession or commit acts of Sedition. The Sculpture was not removed by the Government. The University wanted it gone from their property.
You had to experience HK during the Riots in 2019 to understand what was going on. No Country would have tolerated this. It made the BLM Protests in the USA look like a picnic.
HK and Macao have the same Basic Laws BTW.
If you want to get an understanding of what was going on, read Nury Vittachi’s book about the Riots, what it was like, how it was reported in the West and what was behind it. He is a well known Journalist in HK.
The law could not have dealt with secessionist rioters. Democracy “freedom” ideologues are driven by self-interest, diametrically opposed to communism, so the state had no choice but to remove books supporting the ideology of the secessionists. China is Marxist. Suck it up.
Self-interested, ‘freedom-loving’ democracy ideologues. No insight into the human condition. . They never do anything to eradicate entrenched poverty, because “i’m alright, Jack, don’t interfere with MY aspirations; poverty eradication might affect MY hip-pocket…”
(I notice the ‘-5’ votes: says everything about lack of awareness of the human condition. Btw, as Alan Kohler noted recently, a horror post-election budget in Oz (dealing with a $1 trillion govt. debt and legislated tax cuts) can be avoided if the electorate understands MMT}.