(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners gathered outside the Hong Kong City Hall in the morning of the Chinese New Year to express their gratitude, respect and wishes for a Happy New Year to Master Li Hongzhi. They put their palms together in a traditional gesture of respect and said, “We respectfully wish Master a Happy New Year.”

The activities on New Year's Day lasted from about 9 a.m. to noon. Locals and tourists enjoyed practitioners' performances on the bright sunny day. Some took pictures, and many were happy to receive Falun Gong truth-clarification materials.

Practitioners also hosted a booth at the week-long New Year Flower Market and took to the streets to distribute materials in busy areas of Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, and other areas to inform mainland tourists about the facts of the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners gather outside of Hong Kong City Hall to wish Master a Happy Chinese New Year.

Waist drum performance

Little disciples wish Master a Happy Chinese New Year

At the New Year Flower Market

With so many people out and about celebrating the New Year, it's a great time for practitioners to be able to reach out to locals and tourists from all walks of life, particularly those visiting from the mainland. Practitioners set up a booth at the the New Year Flower Market in Victoria Park from January 25 to 31. They handed out small origami lotus flowers, Chinese New Year calendars, and various other materials about Falun Gong and the persecution. Mainland tourists were also able to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations on the spot.

The New Year Flower Market is a traditional Cantonese way of celebrating the holiday. People buy fresh flowers at the market to decorate their homes each day. Typical flowers and plants include peach blossoms, kumquat and gladiolus. They all signify good fortune.

The Falun Gong booth at the Chinese New Year market at the Victoria Park

A Falun Gong practitioner hands out truth-clarification materials outside of the Falun Gong booth at the Chinese New Year market at the Victoria Park.

“Hong Kong People Support You”

Mrs. Hu, coordinator of the Falun Gong flower market booth, said that the origami lotus flowers with messages of “The World needs Truth-Compassion-Tolerance” were very popular. Citizens even lined up to receive one. A young man at his 30's approached her and said, “I support you, and Hong Kong people support you.” Some even exclaimed, “Falun Gong!”

An elderly man who claimed to be a CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) member shared with Mrs. Hu: “Ever since the Hong Kong Youth Care Association (HKYCA, directly supervised by the 610 Office in Beijing) started attacking Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong, Hong Kong people knew it and were angry at those HKYCA thugs.”

He said that HKYCA was a trouble in Hong Kong. “We Hong Kong people support Falun Gong.” He added.

Change in the Attitude of Locals and Tourists

Hong Kong is a very unique place. Over 100,000 mainland Chinese pass through Hong Kong each day. Many of them are eager to hear the truth about Falun Gong, recognizing that they cannot do so in the mainland. Mrs. Zhang, coordinator of a truth-clarification site in Hong Kong, and others that volunteer with her have seen a change in their overall attitude toward Falun Gong.

Many more people, including influential members of Hong Kong society and CCP officials, now reach out for Falun Gong materials than in the past. Legislators and government officials regularly pass a Falun Gong site outside of the Hong Kong government buildings. Some now smile to express their support, something that rarely happened in the past do to the overwhelming effect of CCP propaganda demonizing Falun Gong.

Now some CCP officials will even pose for pictures together with practitioners, and openly approach them to learn about the facts of forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Practitioners Wish Mr. Li a Happy Chinese New Year

Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong have persevered in in-person truth-clarification during the past 14 years and informed mainland tourists and Hong Kong people about the facts of the persecution and the benefit of quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. At the frontline between China and the rest of the world, practitioners have also deterred violent interferences launched by HKYCA, division of 610 Office in Hong Kong.

Mrs. Zhang expresses her sincere greetings to Mr. Li. She says, “Master Li has given us so much and endured slanders from the CCP thugs and misunderstandings from people who have been fooled by the propaganda. On the day of Chinese New Year, I would like to express my utmost respect and gratitude to Master to wish him a good Chinese New Year.” She also strives to be more diligent with her cultivation in the new year and help more people to learn the facts about Falun Gong.

Carol, a media professional, has practiced Falun Gong for over 10 years. “I know more and more that compassion is the most powerful force. I hope I will do better in the New Year by adhering to the principles of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance.” She shares.