Tribulations in Hong Kong

Since the British Government ceded Hong Kong to China in 1997, Hong Kong has been deemed a Special Autonomous Region (SAR) of China, operating under the rubric of "One Country, Two Systems." Hong Kong is supposed to retain the civil rights, political and social freedoms, and economic system that have made it so prosperous and popular under British rule.

However, the world has seen a slow erosion of Hong Kong's independence as China has sought more and more to meddle in Government and legal affairs, specifically in the case of Hong Kong's treatment of Falun gong. The practice of Falun going is legal and protected under Hong Kong's laws, as are freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. However, China, through its Liaison Office (a type of Consulate or Embassy) has continually pressured the supposedly autonomous Hong Kong government to deny Falun Gong practitioners the right to gather, to appeal for an end to the persecution in China and to hold conferences or rent halls for conferences.

On March 11, 2002, four Falun Gong practitioners from Switzerland arrived in Hong Kong, en route to Beijing to petition the Chinese government to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. They were denied entry into China, even though they had valid visas. As an alternative, they, in conjunction with twelve local practitioners, conducted a three-day hunger strike in front of the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, beginning on the morning of March 14. Their activity complied with all local ordinances. Under pressure from the Chinese Liaison Office, the Hong Kong police repeatedly threatened the demonstrators to make them leave, and finally forcibly removed them at around 1:30 pm that afternoon.

These practitioners were charged with obstructing traffic and assault. Their trial began on June 17, 2002 in Hong Kong. Proceedings from the courtroom clearly indicate this is a sham trial driven by political motives and distorted by the bias of the presiding magistrate. Many officials and newspapers in and out of Hong Kong have expressed dismay at the tenor of the proceedings, seeing in this trial a serious blow to Hong Kong's independence (see accompanying articles.)

Shortly after this trial began, a number of Falun Gong practitioners flew to Hong Kong to participate in the ceremonies commemorating the anniversary of the passing of Hong Kong from Great Britain to China. These practitioners, all holding valid visas, were detained and in many cases abused before being forcibly returned to their native countries. Some non-practitioner travelers with the same names as practitioners were also detained. This incident again shows that China is controlling Hong Kong's government, and also brings up again the issue of the "Anti-Falun Gong Blacklist" a list of practitioners gathered by Chinese spies and distributed to certain countries to prevent Falun Gong practitioners from traveling there. Please see accompanying articles; also visit the page about Iceland.

On August 16th. 9:00 am Hong Kong time, the judge handed down guilty verdicts to all sixteen practitioners arrested outside of the Chinese Liaison Office. The decision will be appealed.

The Illegal Arrest: A Story In Pictures

Articles about the Arrest and Trial

Articles about the Blacklis