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Hong Kong's ''Goddess of Democracy'' is a 6.4-metre faux bronze statue sculpted by Chen Weiming, inspired by the original 10-metre tall Goddess of Democracy. The original foam and papier-mâché statue was erected by the Chinese pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square at the end of May 1989, and destroyed by soldiers clearing the protesters from Tiananmen square on June 4, 1989. Three successive political controversies surrounded the statue in 2010 in the backdrop to the twenty-first anniversary of the suppression of the Tiananmen pro-democracy movement. Firstly, it was seized by the Hong Kong police at a street rally at the public open space in Times Square, Causeway Bay on the grounds that the display violated safety regulations, which was, according to the protesters, a trumped up charge.〔"Students plan to move democracy statues to campus", Associated Press and Staff Reporter, (3 June 2010). ''South China Morning Post''〕 Secondly, the sculptor was denied entry into Hong Kong on 2 June, when he journeyed to Hong Kong to examine the sculpture for possible damage whilst in police custody. Thirdly, the erection of the statue on the campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was denied by university authorities, to the ire of the student leadership. The various controversies surrounding the statue reportedly increased the number of people attending the annual 4 June vigil in Hong Kong to historical highs. Since the record turnout for the anniversary vigil, and under pressure from students, the Chinese University administration acquiesced in allowing the statue a 'temporary home' near the Chinese University exit of the MTR University Station. ==Background== The original ''Goddess of Democracy'' statue has become an icon of liberty and a symbol of the free speech and democracy movements.〔 The Chinese government has tried to distance itself from any discussions about the original statue or about the Tiananmen Square protests, and in the case of the Victims of Communism Memorial it called the building of a replica an "attempt to defame China." Several replicas of the statue have been erected worldwide to commemorate the events of 1989. As no discussion about or mention of the 1989 protests is tolerated in mainland China, and because China has publicly embraced the one country, two systems model of governance for Hong Kong, the annual 4 June observance – a tradition since 1989 – has continued after the transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China.〔Associated Press (3 June 2010). (Hong Kong deports creator of Goddess of Democracy statue ), ''Taipei Times'' 10 June 2010〕 Also, this 6.4-metre statue sculpted by US-resident Chen Weiming is the only 'Goddess of Democracy' to find a home on Chinese soil. The statue was sculpted of an imitated copper material, has been exhibited in the front of the United States Congress in the American capital after its completion in 2008.〔(Chen Weiming ), ArtNext Gallery〕 Another work of the sculptor, a relief measuring 6.4 m wide by 3.2 m high entitled ''Tiananmen Massacre'' completed in June 2009,〔 joined the statue in Hong Kong in 2010.〔Staff reporters (3 June 2010). ("Sculptor remembering Tiananmen Square Massacre denied entry to Hong Kong" ). Secret China〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Goddess of Democracy (Hong Kong)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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