New York Falun Dafa Association's Letter to Hong Kong's Top Officials

Mr. Tung Chee Hwa
Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
People's Republic of China

CC:
Mr. Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Chief Secretary for Administration
Mr. Antony Leung Kam-chung, Financial Secretary
Ms. Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Secretary for Justice

July 9, 2002

Dear Mr. Tung and Principal Officials of the HK SAR:

We have recently witnessed a number of disturbing and chilling incidents where over 100 visitors were refused entry to Hong Kong for being blacklisted as Falun Gong practitioners. Many were mistreated - even with violence - when deported, among whom a 68-year-old lady Ms. Dan Bihan, a U.S. citizen and New York resident, was wrapped up in a canvas tarp and carried to a plane. We deeply deplore the order of the Hong Kong government that led to these incidents, and strongly feel that this injustice is a serious violation of the "one country, two systems" policy and is unworthy of what Hong Kong had been -- a place where people can enjoy democracy and freedom of expression and belief.

Since July 20, 1999, the world has witnessed the senseless and brutal persecution of millions of innocent people practicing Falun Gong in Mainland China where, according to human rights groups, hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been arrested, sent to labor camps and mental hospitals, tortured, and even murdered. Falun Gong practitioners around the world have been holding peaceful appeals to raise awareness about these atrocities in China and to call upon the international community to help stop the persecution and save innocent lives in China. All the appeals have been completely peaceful, both inside and outside China, as any form of violence would be totally against the fundamental principles of Falun Gong -- Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. The peaceful nature of Falun Gong has now been widely recognized by the world, which has gained Falun Gong extensive supports from the international community.

As a shining star on the world stage, Hong Kong had gained the international reputation for its democracy, freedom, and rule of law. These have also been the foundation for Hong Kong's economic prosperity and societal stability. The injustice inflicted upon the peaceful Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong over the past year or so has been severely compromising this foundation that Hong Kong is based upon, tarnishing Hong Kong's international image and reputation, and harming the Hong Kong people as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government.

It is our sincere hope that Hong Kong SAR Government would, for a bright future of Hong Kong, take a firm stand on the "one country, two systems" policy, uphold justice, and not bend the values of democracy and freedom that have brought Hong Kong prosperity and stability to the pressure of a dictator whose hands are covered full of blood of many innocent Chinese people.

Sincerely,

New York Falun Dafa Association
On behalf of Falun Dafa practitioners in New York Metropolitan area