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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