Hong Kong iMail: Envoys' worry on barred citizens

10 May 2001

THE United States Consulate has demanded an explanation from the SAR government as to why some of its citizens have been refused entry to Hong Kong. The Americans say the move could ``limit freedom of association and belief and restrict the free flow of ideas''.

The same request has also been made by the British Consulate following the turning away of seven US and three British Falun Gong practitioners by immigration officers at Hong Kong International Airport since April 28.

It is estimated that at least another 38 overseas Falun Gong followers were barred from entering the territory yesterday.

This brought the total number of [group] members denied entry to Hong Kong since April 28 to just over 100, including 56 from Taiwan, 19 from Australia, 10 from Macau, seven from the US, three from Britain, two from Korea and one each from Japan, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia, according to the Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa.

Up to 170 members of the [group], which is outlawed on the mainland, have successfully entered the SAR in the past few days.

American Consulate spokeswoman Barbara Zigli said they had asked the SAR government to clarify its policy as concerns had been raised about the entry denials.

``We recognise the right of the Hong Kong government to make decisions on entry and exit based on its own policies and procedures.

``We are concerned, however, that these procedures were apparently used arbitrarily to deny entry to some American citizens which could have the effect of limiting freedom of association and belief and restricting the free flow of ideas.

``It is important that Hong Kong's autonomy be maintained and that it upholds its constitutional principles and maintain all the rights and freedoms described in the basic law and the international human rights document to which it had subscribed.

``It is also important to Hong Kong's success as an international city that it remains open to the travelling public,'' Ms Zigli said.

A spokesman for the British Consulate said they had also demanded an explanation from the SAR government. However, the Security Bureau said yesterday that, under the Immigration Ordinance, the Director of Immigration had the discretion to decide who should be allowed to enter the territory.

``In deciding who should be allowed to enter Hong Kong, there is no question of the HKSAR government targeting any specific religious group.

``All actions taken are in compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,'' a bureau spokesman said.

Meanwhile, almost 400 local and overseas Falun Gong members took to the streets across Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay yesterday to protest against Beijing's persecution of the [group].

About 300 members held a candlelight vigil at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai as President Jiang Zemin was delivering the opening address at the forum last night.

Earlier in the day, at the same venue, about 50 Falun Gong members held up photographs of 202 practitioners who they say had been tortured to death on the mainland. ``We take this opportunity to appeal to President Jiang to stop persecution in China and explain to the participants of the forum the true story of the Falun Gong,'' Hui Yee-han, spokeswoman of the Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa said.

Another [group] spokesman, Kan Hung-cheung, said the SAR government had no grounds to reject the entry of overseas [group] members.

``More than 100 people have been denied entry without reasonable grounds by the Immigration Department. ``Our members just wanted to come here to take part in protests in a peaceful manner. Many of them have visited Hong Kong before and they don't have any criminal records. I can't see why they were rejected entry,'' he said.

Mr Kan also complained that security measures for the forum were too stringent.

``It not only affects the public but also the protest rights of organisations,'' he said.

About 70 Falun Gong members staged a protest at the Outlying Islands Ferry Pier in the morning.