AWSJ: Falun Gong Protesters Vow to Maintain Sit-In --- Activists in Hong Kong Say China Must Change

Associated Press

HONG KONG -- Falun Gong practitioners who have staged a sit-in since Saturday to protest China's detention of members on the mainland said they intend to keep with it until China changes its policies.

"We have to keep a close watch (on) the situation in China. We'll end at an appropriate time if they release or improve conditions for those in prison," said Kan Hung-cheung, a Falun Gong spokesman here.

The 10 Falun Gong practitioners became the group's first [local] members to be arrested in Hong Kong on Saturday when police removed them from the area in front of China's representative office for allegedly obstructing the public. The 10 arrests on Saturday occurred after the Chinese liaison office complained to the authorities, police said. The protesters were released without being charged.

A group of protesters remained near the China liaison office on Tuesday. They have been refusing food but said they have no intention of staging a long hunger strike.

Falun Gong practitioner Joanna Lau said 10 new protesters will take over on Wednesday, with practitioners planning to rotate through four-day shifts to make sure nobody's health is harmed.

Police Superintendent Charles Wong, said Tuesday that authorities will continue to facilitate protests that are peaceful and lawful.

"So long as they have not created an obstruction, and the protest remains lawful and peaceful and we don't receive any complaints, they can continue," Mr. Wong said.

A police spokesman, Mackenzie Mak, said the authorities had struck a balance in answering the needs of the public and the demonstrators, although local Falun Gong followers branded the police action an abuse of power.

Mr. Mak said demonstration locations are determined according to the law and in consideration of any inconvenience to the public.

Falun Gong spokesman Kan Hung-cheung disagreed.

"The arrests were unnecessary," Kan said. "We believe they were made after the police received pressure from Beijing, including the Chinese liaison office."

Falun Gong's longest-running protest here came in July 1999, when followers in Hong Kong sat opposite China's liaison office for 11 days after China outlawed Falun Gong, Kan Hung-cheung said.

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