BBC monitoring: Hong Kong Falun Gong say fines not paid on principle

Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong's audio web site on August 20

The 16 members of the Falun Gong convicted of obstruction have so far failed to pay their fines. They were warned by the court to pay up by five o'clock yesterday afternoon. Otherwise, they could face further action. Sharon Xu, a spokeswoman for the group:

[Xu] Delay of the payment is really a matter of principle for the practitioners to stand up to the system and say: You need to take a look at the verdict again, as this is not right. And we want to wait until the appeal is completed and until our name is restored.

Ms. Xu does not believe they are likely to be arrested for not paying the fines on time.