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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| HK cardinal criticises Beijing | HK cardinal criticises Beijing |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The former leader of Hong Kong's Catholic Church has urged China to reassess its verdict on the 1989 Tiananmen killings. | The former leader of Hong Kong's Catholic Church has urged China to reassess its verdict on the 1989 Tiananmen killings. |
| Cardinal Joseph Zen said he wanted an official inquiry into what happened so future generations could tell the difference between right and wrong. | Cardinal Joseph Zen said he wanted an official inquiry into what happened so future generations could tell the difference between right and wrong. |
| Hong Kong is only part of China where memorials to the massacre are held. | Hong Kong is only part of China where memorials to the massacre are held. |
| The Cardinal has now retired from his position as head of Hong Kong's church, and is now an adviser to the Pope. | The Cardinal has now retired from his position as head of Hong Kong's church, and is now an adviser to the Pope. |
| Reassessment? | Reassessment? |
| In a talk at Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club, the cardinal said he wanted to see an official re-examination of the bloody crackdown of 20 years ago this week. | In a talk at Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club, the cardinal said he wanted to see an official re-examination of the bloody crackdown of 20 years ago this week. |
| "I hope they really consider seriously the possibility of a reassessment of the verdict," Mr Zen said. | "I hope they really consider seriously the possibility of a reassessment of the verdict," Mr Zen said. |
| "It will not damage anyone, but would be to the advantage of the whole nation," he said. | "It will not damage anyone, but would be to the advantage of the whole nation," he said. |
| China's official line on the Tiananmen massacre, in which hundreds, possibly thousands, of demonstrators and civilians were killed, is that the protests threatened Communist Party rule and had to be quelled. | China's official line on the Tiananmen massacre, in which hundreds, possibly thousands, of demonstrators and civilians were killed, is that the protests threatened Communist Party rule and had to be quelled. |
| Asked by AFP news agency when or if he thought the Chinese government would soften its stance, Mr Zen said: "Things in China are unpredictable. It may happen tomorrow or still take 20 years." | |
| Hong Kong's role | Hong Kong's role |
| Many at Sunday's protest wore black and white, to symbolise mourning | Many at Sunday's protest wore black and white, to symbolise mourning |
| A strong advocate of democracy, Cardinal Zen usually opens the 4 June candlelight vigil in Hong Kong, held every year to mark the massacre. | A strong advocate of democracy, Cardinal Zen usually opens the 4 June candlelight vigil in Hong Kong, held every year to mark the massacre. |
| This year he will be in Rome, but held a special mass for victims last Friday. | This year he will be in Rome, but held a special mass for victims last Friday. |
| Organisers are expecting a strong turnout this year, in part because of comments made by Hong Kong's chief executive, Donald Tsang, which appeared to airbrush history. | Organisers are expecting a strong turnout this year, in part because of comments made by Hong Kong's chief executive, Donald Tsang, which appeared to airbrush history. |
| Claiming to speak for all Hong Kong people, Mr Tsang said China's economic development should be taken into account when assessing the events of 20 years ago. | Claiming to speak for all Hong Kong people, Mr Tsang said China's economic development should be taken into account when assessing the events of 20 years ago. |
| The outspoken pro-democracy figure Leung Kwok-hung, known as Longhair, believes Mr Tsang's comments will bring more people to the vigil. | The outspoken pro-democracy figure Leung Kwok-hung, known as Longhair, believes Mr Tsang's comments will bring more people to the vigil. |
| Thousands of people joined a march in Hong Kong on Sunday to mark the forthcoming anniversary of the Tiananmen killings, in one of the few such events on Chinese soil. | Thousands of people joined a march in Hong Kong on Sunday to mark the forthcoming anniversary of the Tiananmen killings, in one of the few such events on Chinese soil. |