June 4, 36 Years On | Missing June 4 Landmarks: Goddess of Democracy and June 4 Relief Unaccounted For, Pillar of Shame Held as Evidence
六四 36｜消失的六四地標 民主女神像、六四浮雕下落不明 國殤之柱成證物
At the end of 2021, several universities in Hong Kong suddenly removed June 4 landmarks from their campuses, including the Goddess of Democracy, the Pillar of Shame and a June 4 relief. The Pillar of Shame was taken to the University of Hong Kong’s Kadoorie Centre in Yuen Long and was seized by the National Security Department the year before last as evidence in a case of inciting subversion of state power. Lingnan University previously said that the June 4 relief had been properly stored, but did not disclose its location. The Goddess of Democracy remains unaccounted for. The Chinese University of Hong Kong previously said it had instructed legal advisers to determine the next steps concerning its removal with the statue’s owner, Chen Weiming. Three and a half years on, what has become of the landmarks? Chen Weiming, the artist who created the Goddess of Democracy and the June 4 relief, said he had discussed arrangements for returning the works with the Chinese University and Lingnan University through legal representatives at the time. He agreed to the universities’ conditions, including assuming the risks and costs of transport, not pursuing the matter in future and signing a confidentiality agreement. However, after he asked the universities about the specific transport arrangements, they stopped responding, and the matter came to nothing. The Collective, a Hong Kong media outlet, asked the Chinese University and Lingnan University about the works’ current whereabouts. The Chinese University said it had “no further information to add regarding the incident”, while Lingnan University said, “The university handles items strictly in accordance with Hong Kong law and has no other comment.” Jens Galschiøt, the creator of the Pillar of Shame, said he was considering suing the Hong Kong government.
2021 年末，本港多間大學突然移走校內的六四地標，包括民主女神像、國殤之柱、六四浮雕。其中國殤之柱被運往元朗港大嘉道理中心，前年被國安處檢走為煽動顛覆國家政權案的證物；至於六四浮雕，嶺大曾稱妥為儲存，但未透露地點；民主女神像則至今下落不明，中大曾稱已委託法律顧問，與雕像擁有者陳維明確定移走的後續步驟。 三年半過去，這些地標去向如何？創作民主女神像和六四浮雕的藝術家陳維明表示，當年曾透過法律代表，與中大和嶺大商討作品歸還的安排，並同意校方的條件，包括願意承擔運送的風險和費用、日後不作追究、簽署保密協議等，但當他向校方查詢具體運送安排，校方便再也沒有回覆，事件不了了之。《集誌社》向中大和嶺大查詢作品現時去向，中大指「對相關事件沒有進一步補充」，嶺大則稱「大學嚴格按照香港法律處理物品，並無其他評論」；至於國殤之柱創作者高志活則稱正考慮控告港府。