Sun, Jun 30 2002 4:33 AM AEST

An Australian woman who has been detained at Hong Kong Airport since last night says officials will not let her in to the country because she is a member of the spiritual group Falun Gong.

Vina Lee says when she tried to pass through customs at the airport she was detained and told she would not be allowed access to Hong Kong.

She says she has been kept in a room at the airport for several hours from where she used her mobile phone to call the ABC.

Ms Lee says it is clear her connection with the spiritual group is the reason for her detention.

"It's very obvious [it's] because I practice in Falun Gong," she said.

"The thing I don't understand is [in] Hong Kong it is legal to practice Falun Gong, it's no problem," Ms Lee said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/2002/06/item20020629200912_1.htm