May 8, 2001

HONG KONG, China -- Protest groups have held rallies across Hong Kong as Chinese President Jiang Zemin attends a global forum in the territory.

The protest groups include Falun Gong members calling for an end to the suppression of their practices in China, rights groups urging for the release of dissidents and others demanding accountability over the Tiananman Square massacre.

Some distance away from the protest groups, 354 Pro-Beijing organizations held a concert welcoming Jiang to Hong Kong.

Falun Gong practitioners, dressed in their trademark yellow T-shirts, practiced their breathing exercise in the official protest zone mid-afternoon.

Two hours later a second group -- Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China -- took their place.

Yeung Sum said the group is demanding accountability for the 1989 June Fourth massacre in Tiananment Square.

"We've been fighting for it for 12 years. We urge Jiang and the Chinese government to release all pro-democracy dissidents," he said.

Extra security Some 3,000 police have been deployed during the three-day forum to maintain order.

Other rally groups include the Support Tiananmen Mothers Campaign -- dressed in white with black veils and carrying lanterns with details of 160 people killed in the 1989 student movement.

"We want the Chinese government to give people the right to mourn the tragedy in public in China, and the right to accept humanitarian aid from people inside and outside China," said campaign spokesperson Chan.

[...]