It was the first time the vigil on June 4 had been banned in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, with police citing coronavirus restrictions in refusing permission for it to take place. Still, tens of thousands lit candles across the city in what was largely a peaceful event, bar a brief skirmish with riot police in one neighbourhood.

The anniversary struck an especially sensitive nerve in the former British colony this year, falling just as China prepared to introduce national security legislation in response to last year's often violent pro-democracy demonstrations.

Pro-democracy activists see the new legislation as the latest attempt by Beijing to encroach on Hong Kong's freedoms.

Police said in a statement on Thursday that 24 people, including 19 men and 5 women, aged 23 to 69, had been charged with knowingly taking part in an unauthorised assembly. Such a charge existed before the new security law came into force on June 30.

Wong, and at least six other activists said on their Facebook pages that they were among those charged.

"Clearly, the regime plans to stage another crackdown on the city's activists by all means," Wong said.

Wong made a court appearance on Wednesday on similar charges related to a protest last year. The verdict is expected later this year.

The new security law, which punishes anything China sees as subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, has drawn strong criticism from Western countries for putting Hong Kong on a more authoritarian path.

June 4 commemorations are banned in mainland China, but Hong Kong, which was promised certain freedoms when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, held large vigils every year.

Australian Associated Press