News Review: International Media Focus on the "Public Obstruction" Case; What Direction is the Hong Kong Government Taking?

(Clearwisdom.net) With regards to the legal case in which Falun Gong practitioners are charged with "public obstruction," defense lawyer Paul Harris made closing remarks on August 7, in front of the judge. Recently, major media all over the world have focused on Hong Kong and are reporting on the case. Under the surface of this issue, the implied focus is on the future of Hong Kong.

Reuters reported on August 7, "The Hong Kong government's decision to prosecute the 16 Falun Gong practitioners has raised questions about freedoms in the territory five years into Chinese rule. Falun Gong [practitioners] on public obstruction charges has raised worries that Hong Kong is curbing human rights and clamping down on Falun Gong group, which is banned in mainland China but allowed here." A special article in the American "Intervention Magazine" directly pointed out that the Basic Law is being tested and said that the result of the "public obstruction" case is regarded as an omen of Hong Kong's future. People are closely watching whether the "one country, two systems" policy truly exists, and what direction the Hong Kong government is taking. On August 7, Reuters reported that "...the local government's decision to prosecute the 16, who include four Swiss nationals, has raised questions about freedoms in the territory five years into Chinese rule. Hong Kong police have allowed Falun Gong protest in most situations because this is regarded as a rule to measure the politics and religios freedom of Hong Kong. The trial coincides with what appears to be a tougher stand by Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa against Beijing's critics."

The Associated Press reported August 7 that "The trial of 16 Falun Gong members -- including four Swiss -- on public obstruction charges has raised worries that Hong Kong is curbing human rights and clamping down on the [group], which is banned in mainland China but allowed here. Another Associated Press report said that a defense lawyer told a magistrate that on Thursday 16 Falun Gong [practitioners] must be acquitted on obstruction charges or Hong Kong's guarantees of free speech and assembly would mean nothing. "This prosecution is completely misconceived", attorney Paul Harris argued, wrapping up his case on the 26th day of Hong Kong's first-ever criminal trial against Falun Gong practitioners." In addition, South China Morning Post reported on August 8, "the footpath where Falun Gong protesters were arrested for obstruction outside the Beijing Liaison Office in Connaught Road was wide enough to stage a mini-concert or park six cars, a court was told yesterday. Police were also accused of undermining their case as the barriers they erected after the arrests on March 14 took up four times the space the protesters had occupied. Mr Haynes said police had been "influenced" to clear the footpath because the Beijing Liaison Office had the status of a semi-consulate building. Instead, he said, the whole prosecution case was based on the views of police and liaison office security guards."

A special article by Danny Schechter entitled "A trial in Hong Kong Puts China On Trial", was published in the American "Intervention Magazine". The article mentioned that, "The trial has been a joke. The prosecution called no third-party witnesses, only police and Liaison Office security guards. The judge was openly biased against Falun Gong, projecting an attitude which legal observers fear will impact on his verdict."

Schechter also said, "Video footage and eyewitness accounts testify to the peaceful nature of the protest on a sidewalk that is approximately 30 feet wide. The demonstrators had occupied an area no more than ten feet across, leaving ample room for pedestrians. "Soon, 50-60 police surrounded the practitioners blocking off the entire sidewalk, some charged, choking some of the practitioners, and squeezing their pressure points Chinese style. They were then all dragged away and arrested."

Further, the author mentioned that "But now that law is being put to a legal test that could well decide whether China will respect the freedom of Hong Kong or further choke off free expression there." "China's trial has provoked criticism worldwide. The outcome of the trial at a time when Jiang Zemin is indicating that he may refuse to step down for a transition to new leadership in China is being viewed as a bellwether for the future."
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2002/8/10/34618.html

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