Over the weekend as Beijing observed the 10th anniversary of the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Chinese authorities cracked down on unauthorised memorials for the event, raiding one large church commemoration and leaving one Hong Kong journalist beaten.

Key points: Over 200 members from local Sichuan church were detained for attending a memorial service

Over 200 members from local Sichuan church were detained for attending a memorial service Two men who attacked a Hong Kong journalist were said to be local officials

Two men who attacked a Hong Kong journalist were said to be local officials The crackdowns and violence highlight the contentious nature of the anniversary to Beijing

Ten years after the magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck Wenchuan County on May 12, 2008 — killing more than 70,000 people and leaving millions homeless — feelings among the victims' families are still just as raw and unresolved.

A disproportionate number of those killed in the earthquake were children whose "tofu-dreg" school buildings — an expression used to describe mainland China's poorly constructed buildings — collapsed around them.

After natural disasters in China, government-approved memorial services are usually organised to focus on the state's restoration achievements in order to maintain social stability — such as this year's "thanksgiving" campaign to celebrate recovery efforts.

Loading

But unauthorised gatherings organised by family members, and especially those of religious nature, are sensitive and often the target of crackdowns, as observers say Beijing fears mass gatherings that could spiral into protests.

Over the past decade, parents and activists have continued to demand explanation from the government, but many have been intimidated, silenced, or detained.

An official memorial service of the earthquake anniversary was held in Wenchuan county in south-west China's Sichuan Province on Saturday to remember the victims.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the area had "achieved remarkable achievements in restoration and reconstruction work, providing useful experience and enlightenment for the international community in post-disaster reconstruction work".

Memorial service raided, hundreds detained

Sorry, this video has expired A video uploaded to social media shows Pastor Wang being questioned by Chinese police.

Last week, Pastor Wang Yi of the Early Rain Covenant Church had organised a prayer service to mark the event, but was reportedly detained by police on Friday with police officers saying that he was "picking quarrels and provoking trouble".

His church was raided the next day, with over 200 members who turned up at the service detained, including several children, and over 15,600 books including copies of the Bible confiscated, according to the church group's Facebook page.

"At 7:30am on May 12, dozens of police officers blockaded the entrance of the church and wouldn't allow us to go upstairs," a statement by the church said.

The statement added that two members were punched in the face for singing hymns.

Pastor Wang and church members were released by Saturday evening, and in a message the Pastor indicated that he expected the church's conflict with the authorities will continue.

The Early Rain Covenant Church and Chengdu authorities have not responded to ABC's request for comments.

In China, only a small number of government-backed churches are allowed to exist, but many churches like those of Pastor Wang continue to oppose restrictions on religion and call for believers to fight back.

Journalist attacks highlight contentious anniversary

The Sichuan province bore the brunt of the quake. (file photo) ( Yao Liwei, file photo: ABC )

Meanwhile, on the morning of May 12, Hong Kong journalist Chan Ho-fai was reportedly kicked and beaten by two government officials while reporting on the anniversary.

Mr Chan, a reporter with broadcaster i-Cable News, was at the site of a collapsed school when he was attacked.

Hong Kong journalist Chan Ho-fai was kicked and beaten while reporting on the anniversary. ( Supplied: I-cable News )

"I wanted to take a picture of the scene with my phone, but within half a minute, two men suddenly grabbed me by each arm, took away my phone, and dragged me away," Mr Chan told reporters.

"While I kept calling for help, the two men kept kneeing me in the stomach, and kicking me in the head," Mr Chan said.

By the evening, local authorities brought the pair before the media to apologise to Mr Chan, after Hong Kong officials expressed concerns about the assault.

During the attack, the two men were reportedly plain-clothed and claimed to be civilians.

Observers say the sporadic attacks against reporters and crackdowns on unauthorised memorials for families highlights how ten years on from the devastating quake, a lot of the issues raised by the victims' families have not been addressed properly by the state.

Requests for comment from Beijing and local government administrations went unanswered at the time of writing.