August 25, 2001

HONG KONG (AP) -- Police arrested 10 followers of the Falun Gong meditation sect on Saturday for allegedly blocking a sidewalk in front of a Chinese government office and refusing to leave.

It was the first time Hong Kong authorities have taken action against local adherents of the group that is outlawed in mainland China as an "[Chinese government's slanderous words].'' But the Falun Gong complained there had been no legitimate reason for the arrests.

China's central government is fighting to eradicate Falun Gong in the mainland, but the group remains legal in Hong Kong and frequently protests here against Beijing's suppression, to the dismay of Beijing's local political allies who have demanded some sort of clampdown.

That would be difficult, given the freedoms of speech and religion that exist in Hong Kong four years after the former British colony was returned to Chinese sovereignty, but Hong Kong officials have gradually stepped up their rhetoric against Falun Gong and they say they are keeping a close eye on the group's activities.

"Our protest ran very peacefully,'' Kan Hung-cheung told The Associated Press by telephone. "I don't see why the police have done such a thing to us.''

[...]

The Falun Gong adherents gathered outside the Chinese liaison office in the morning and said they would refuse food in their latest protest against Beijing's crackdown on Falun Gong that allegedly has led to the deaths of 268 people in Chinese custody.

Kan said the police have controlled demonstrations outside the Chinese office more tightly than they have elsewhere.

"It makes us wonder whether some higher level officials have put extra pressure on the police,'' Kan said.

[...]

Police on the sidewalk outnumbered the Falun Gong followers, and Falun Gong said that if anybody had been blocking things, it was the police.

[...]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Hong-Kong-Banned-Sect.html