Wednesday April 25

HONG KONG (Reuters) - About 20 members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, outlawed in mainland China, demonstrated in central Hong Kong on Wednesday for an end to what they called Beijing's campaign of "unreasonable persecution".

The demonstration in Hong Kong, where the group is legal, came on the second anniversary of a mass Falun Gong protest in Beijing, which brought the group to the attention of authorities and led to its banning.

Wednesday's protest outside China's Liaison Office in the city's bustling Western district is seen as a prelude to a string of demonstrations planned for early May when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits the territory.

A larger protest by Falun Gong members against Beijing's crackdown is expected to take place in central Hong Kong later in the day.

A small number of Falun Gong followers made brief protests individually or in pairs on Wednesday at Beijing's Tiananmen Square before being taken away by police.

At last year's anniversary, hundreds of followers were rounded up on the square in all-day protests.

Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule. Under Sino-British accords, it will retain a large degree of autonomy for 50 years.

"We want China to stop suppressing our practitioners," said Kan Hung-cheong, a spokesman for the group in Hong Kong. "We also want the world to know that the protest in China two years ago was all because of Beijing's suppression."

The movement shocked China's leadership two years ago when some 10,000 followers surrounded the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing to protest against attacks by some Chinese state-controlled newspapers.

Beijing banned the group in July 1999 and has since carried out a relentless crackdown, denouncing the group [Chinese government's slanderous words omitted].

Demonstrators on Wednesday went through slow-motion exercises opposite the Liaison Office. Around them were banners reading: "Remember the April 25 peaceful petition" and "Unreasonable persecution".

Human rights groups believe more than 100 Falun Gong members have died after police abuse and thousands are in labour camps.

The group plans to stage demonstrations in Hong Kong between May 8 and 10, when Jiang is due to address an economic conference.

Overseas followers are expected to converge on Hong Kong at the time of Jiang's visit, just days ahead of the anniversary of the movement's founding on May 13.