Hundreds of pro-democracy activists marched through central Hong Kong today to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989 when hundreds of civilian peace protesters were shot dead by the Chinese army during what the government described as “social chaos”. The response shocked many and was condemned by the international community throughout the years since the incident. The Chinese government censored information about the killings by blocking search engines.

Hong Kong activists said that they fear the pro-Beijing government of chief-executive Leung Chun-ying could deny their democratic rights after he succeeds Hong Kong chief Donald Tsang.

The march is also to protest against Chinese government rule in the former British colony’s semi-autonomous territory. The protesters want to ensure their basic rights and freedoms, not granted on the mainland, are intact. Hong Kong has had its own mini constitution since its reversion to Chinese rule in 1997.