December 11, 1999
Web posted at: 6:13 PM HKT (1013 GMT)

HONG KONG (AP) -- With arms raised, eyes closed, and gongs and Chinese string instruments playing off a loudspeaker, about 600 Falun Gong practitioners held an "exercise session" today outside the Hong Kong offices of Beijing's state-run media.

They wanted to submit an open letter addressed to Chinese President Jiang Zemin, but the doors were locked at the Hong Kong headquarters of China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, and nobody came out to receive the letter.

"This is not a protest," said Kan Hung-cheung, the group's spokesman.

Beijing's media has labeled Falun Gong "an evil cult ... which is harmful to people's minds and bodies," and mainland authorities have rounded up hundreds of the sect's members in China.

Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong -- the only place in China where the group is allowed to practice -- responded en masse with protests along with practitioners from mainland China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and Western Europe.

Police said that about 20 officers had been deployed around the sidewalks across Xinhua's offices to watch over today's demonstration.

"We urge the Chinese government to consider open dialogue and clear any misunderstandings about Falun Gong," added Kan, a restaurateur who has been a member for three years. He was one of the 15 practitioners who left the letter at Xinhua's doorstep.

Falun Gong blends slow-motion meditation exercises and ideas from Taoism, Buddhism and Falun Gong's U.S.-based founder, Li Hongzhi. Practitioners say Falun Gong promotes health and good citizenship.

"Can Falun Gong truly scare people like fierce floods and savage beasts?" the letter said. "Does Falun Gong really present a danger to the Communist Party, the state, society and the human race?"

Kan said that membership in Hong Kong had dwindled since the crackdown early this year in the mainland. They feared that Beijing's control would extend here -- despite assurances from Hong Kong leaders that religious freedom would be upheld.

Like many of those sitting on the concrete pavement with legs crossed in meditation, 21-year old university student Liu Feng was perplexed that Beijing should suppress the group so harshly.

International members of the group detained in mainland China and deported to Hong Kong early this month displayed bruise marks on the arms and chests, saying Falun Gong members were occasionally beaten during interrogation by mainland police.

"I don't understand why the Chinese leaders are like that. There's nothing bad about Falun Gong," said Liu, who took an 18-day break from his studies in Ireland to join Saturday's mass exercises.

With three suitcases in tow, Liu joined the mass exercises looking calm and fresh from a 14-hour flight from Dublin. The trip was worth it, he said, if only "to let the Chinese leaders understand Falun Gong."