SCMP Reports 80 Taiwanese Falun Gong Practitioners Denied Entry to Hong Kong for Conference

02/24/2003
South China Morning Post
Page 3

Falun Gong [practitioners] yesterday criticized the government for denying entry to dozens of overseas followers, as hundreds marched to protest against the proposed anti-subversion laws.

Of the more than 400 Taiwanese Falun Gong [practitioners] who planned to visit Hong Kong for a weekend conference, 80 were denied entry, said spokesman Kan Hung-cheung. A Japanese and a Thai practitioner were also denied entry.

But another 560 overseas practitioners from 20 countries managed to enter Hong Kong and participated in yesterday's march, he said.

Sporting their trademark yellow T-shirts, around 800 followers staged a group practice in Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai, before marching to the Central Government Offices in Central.

Mr Kan said at least nine Taiwanese [practitioners] were treated violently by immigration officials. Some were allegedly dragged away and bundled on to flights back to Taiwan. Others were locked up in isolation for up to 20 hours, he said.

Mr Kan said: "If people are treated like this already, it makes us even more worried about what things will be like after the enactment of Article 23."

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SCMP (South China Morning Post) is a prominent Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper.