AP: Falun Gong Says Six Practitioners Banned from Hong Kong Ahead of Handover Anniversary

By DIRK BEVERIDGE, Associated Press Writer

Thu Jun 27, 3:22 AM ET

HONG KONG - Six Falun Gong [practitioners] including an American and three Australians were barred from entering Hong Kong, apparently to stop them from protesting when Chinese leaders arrive to mark the fifth anniversary of the handover of the former British colony, a spokeswoman for the meditation [group] said Thursday.

Falun Gong is banned [...] in China but remains legal in Hong Kong, where members often demonstrate against the persecution of [practitioners] on the mainland. The group is planning a protest next week during high-profile events commemorating the anniversary of Hong Kong's return from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Falun Gong spokeswoman Sophie Xiao said that immigration authorities gave no reason for turning away the six [practitioners], who she said included two Chinese from nearby Macau. A government spokeswoman declined to comment on the allegations.

"I suspect there is a list," Xiao said.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin is widely expected to attend events next Monday that will include a swearing-in ceremony as Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa begins his second five-year term.

The Falun Gong spokeswoman recalled that about 100 Falun Gong practitioners from overseas were refused entry to Hong Kong when the Chinese president last visited two years ago for an economic conference. They wanted to join demonstrations against Jiang's efforts to eradicate the [group] in mainland China.

"The same thing's happening again," she said.

The American Falun Gong [practitioner] was turned away at Hong Kong's airport last weekend, and the three Australians were stopped after flying in Wednesday, she said by telephone. The two practitioners from Macau were blocked at the ferry terminal earlier in the week, she said.

At Hong Kong's Immigration Department, spokeswoman Lisa Yip declined comment on Falun Gong's allegations, saying she could not discuss individual cases.

The frequent protests in Hong Kong by Falun Gong against the crackdown by Beijing place the government of the territory in a delicate situation. Falun Gong is legal in Hong Kong under a political arrangement that allows its citizens to continue to enjoy freedoms and rights unknown on the mainland.

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