AP: Falun Gong Accuses Hong Kong Government Of "Political Persecution"

September 2, 2003

HONG KONG (AP)--Hong Kong followers of the spiritual group Falun Gong - banned in mainland China - accused the government of political persecution Tuesday ahead of an appeal of their public obstruction convictions.

"This is absolutely a politically motivated prosecution," said Lu Jie, one of 16 Falun Gong followers fined after being convicted of public obstruction during a March 14, 2002, sit-in at the Chinese government's liaison office.

Three protesters were also convicted of more serious charges of assaulting police as a result of scuffling that broke out when police removed them. Nine were also convicted of obstructing police.

Falun Gong will challenge the convictions in an appeal scheduled to start Wednesday.

Lu said the Hong Kong government succumbed to pressure from the Chinese government to crack down on the group.

"We only took up a small space," said Lu, who was convicted on all three counts. She called the appeal a "symbolic" case shedding light on whether Hong Kong's rule of law can withstand political pressure.

Falun Gong is banned [...] in the mainland but remains legal in this former British colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong was handed back under an arrangement that preserves its capitalist way of life, but worries have surfaced that the territory's civil liberties are gradually eroding.

Falun Gong believes it has become a target of persecution.

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