Guest Comments by Jens Galschiot

A Danish sculptor, Galschiot created the Pillar of Shame statue as a reminder of the Beijing Massacre (June 4, 1989) when Chinese soldiers killed thousands of innocent citizens, many of them student protestors. Each year, the Pillar stands tall at a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong. Now, on the atrocity’s 20th anniversary, the artist wishes to visit Hong Kong to repair the statue. Already Hong Kong has rejected anniversary visits by several Chinese dissidents.

Open Letter to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council

After more than three weeks of waiting I received at length, on May 7, a fax from the Immigration Department. However, the message seems to be a mere standard formula containing no reference to the questions I’ve addressed to the Immigration authorities.

This message leaves me completely uncertain about whether I can enter Hong Kong. This isn’t a satisfactory answer to my request. Therefore, I’ve sent a new request to the Immigration authorities to clarify the situation.

The purpose of the visit is to repair the Pillar of Shame, a monument I created about the Tiananmen Square Massacre, and to join the memorials surrounding the 20th anniversary.

From the media, I’m told that Dr Yang Jianli (a Chinese dissident) has been refused entry into Hong Kong. This case is grotesque because Yang is a Chinese citizen with a valid passport. He was denied access to his own country for wanting to join the 20th anniversary commemoration. Such expulsions reinforce fears that my staff and I could risk denial of entry, as happened last spring.

Your Immigration Department’s failure to clarify makes me uncomfortable about planning a journey to Hong Kong. The government’s declaration of Hong Kong as an open society looks unconvincing.

Frankly, I see the message from the Immigration authorities as a disguised attempt to prevent me from going to Hong Kong to commemorate the 1989 Beijing Massacre. I’m very sad that the authorities in this way help to repress free speech in Hong Kong.

By such obstruction, citizens from democratic countries are prevented from entering Hong Kong to honor and commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in Beijing on June 4, 1989. The case has obvious political implications so I’d request Legco members to get involved. Hong Kong’s reputation and precious ideals are at stake. It’s important to secure Hong Kong into the family of civilized, democratic places where free speech and the rule of law aren’t under attack.

When Hong Kong reunited with the Chinese mainland, the principle of “one country, two systems” was declared to preserve Hong Kong and develop its democratic system. Critics still worry that the totalitarian Beijing regime gradually will annihilate Hong Kong’s liberties. I hope that Legco stands firmly to defend transparency and free speech.

I’d be happy if you investigated this issue, discussed it and took appropriate action.


Editor's Note: As the writer feared, he later arrived in Hong Kong only to be turned away by Immigration authorities.


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