Sat Jan 13 15:31:57 2001

HONG KONG - In a show of defiance against a government crackdown, hundreds of [practitioners] of Falun Gong from around the world gathered in a Hong Kong park Saturday.

They met to practise their slow, rythmic exercises and denounce the repression of their meditation movement in mainland China.

Taking part in exercises

Chinese authorities have denounced Falun Gong as [a slanderous phrase] and has banned the movement. But members were allowed to gather in Hong Kong, because the former British colony has retained a degree of autonomy from mainland China.

On Saturday, practitioners marched to the Chinese government liaison office. They followed 120 women dressed in white, the traditional colour of mourning.

The women represented each [practitioner] of Falun Gong that the group says has been killed.

Some of the protestors carried photos of Falun Gong members who died at the hands of Chinese police.

Once at the liaison office, march organizers left messages and petitions asking Beijing to stop its campaign against Falun Gong.

Despite the level of tolerance for the group, a number of police officers were seen videotaping the demonstration. And Falun Gong members complained that 12 followers were stopped at the Hong Kong airport.