i was already checked in at my hotel in wan chai and just finished a dip at the pool when he texted to ask if i landed yet. he said there was a big thing happening in victoria park, the june 4th vigil. "im going alone, it'll just be sitting around in this awful humid heat."
"not sure if you'll be interested," he said. i asked, "that's today?" "yea, i forgot it was today..." he told me sheepishly. "it's actually just remembering June 4th Tiananmen (a city square in Beijing) Massacre. and people hold candles and listen to people sing and say things."
"sure, we can go," i told him. "it might be boring, i will try to translate as much as i can," he said, still unsure how i felt about it. "it's cool, i wanna go," i insisted. we agreed to meet at the wan chai station at six. "you're the best," he told me. "and bring an umbrella."
i remember getting an automated travel advisory from mobility team about this. it said low risk, but mentioned i might encounter traffic-related concerns when going around CWB. for a sec, i contemplated whether it was ok to attend a political observance while on a business trip.
i told him i didnt have an umbrella. he brought me an extra one. we took the tram and joined the growing crowd in causeway bay. we were handed candles as we passed by. we sat on the grass, a random spot in one of the football pitches.
i watched all the candle lights, the buildings surrounding us, the people on-stage speaking fervid cantonese. he translated their stories for me.
it's been two years since. that time may be one of the vigil's last years.
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| Photo: Sam Tsang |
