(Clearwisdom.net) From 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on August 5, 2002, Falun Gong practitioners from the Great New York area held a peaceful appeal in front of Hong Kong's Economic and Trade Office in New York regarding Hong Kong police's wrongful charges against 16 Falun Gong practitioners.
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A representative of Falun Gong practitioners in the greater New York area read out a letter to the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The letter stated, "Hong Kong police's false charge against Falun Gong practitioners has not only trampled upon the basic human rights, such as freedom of belief and assembly that Falun Gong practitioners have enjoyed, it is more a political persecution incident because of its intense political background...." The letter stressed, "All appeasement and compromise to the totalitarian violence are destroying the progress of civilization. A society that has lost its rectitude and conscience, and a society that has no longer valued truth would not have its true promise and hope. Stopping Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong will bring a bright and glorious future to Hong Kong."
After the speech, the representatives of Falun Gong practitioners delivered the letter to the office. When the courtroom in Hong Kong has not reached a final conclusion, the deputy director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office read out a statement, insisting on the Hong Kong police's false charge against Falun Gong practitioners. It is clearly seen that Hong Kong's justice system has been damaged to such a state by the Mainland dictator within a short period of time.
In reply to the statement, a spokesperson of Falun Dafa Information Center expressed regret at their insistence on the false charge of Hong Kong police, and published a statement in reply, fully analyzing the facts of the case. The statement displayed the major facts as follows:
- On July 9, when the court commenced, after the barrister of the defendants analyzed the video footage and photos taken on the spot, he pointed out that Hong Kong police's prosecution lacked evidence. Falun Gong practitioners who were peacefully appealing in front of the Chinese liaison office occupied only a site about three meters by two meters of a section of pavement measuring overall 33 meters by 9.5 meters. There was over two meters of clear pavement in all sides of the practitioners. They had not obstructed any passersby.
- Falun Gong practitioners had been quietly holding a banner, which would not pose threat to any passersby, and also could not become an object for obstruction.
- There were no violent actions from the Falun Gong practitioners during the entire process. However, Hong Kong police, without any law basis, and without presenting any formal arrest written document (NTPIC), forcefully arrested these practitioners and used violence for the second time during the detention.
- The testimony of the police's witness in the courtroom contradicted itself regarding "assaulting the police." The police have not provided any third-party eyewitnesses to support their indictment.
The reply statement emphasized: "All phenomena indicate that this is actually a political trial, the nature of the case is not a simple obstruction, but a political prosecution resulted from provoking the Jiang Zemin's regime. It makes people strongly question the Hong Kong government's promise and commitment to the policy of "one country, two systems."
The statement appealed to "the Hong Kong government, people from all walks of Hong Kong: make a clear distinction between right and wrong, the good and evil, and make a right choice. "
The practitioners broadcasted the newsreel about Hong Kong practitioners' peaceful appeal and the police's violent arrest. The movie clearly showed the practitioners' peacefulness and the police' violence. After the show, the practitioners demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises.
Radio Free Asia and Chinese newspapers, including Free Times, did the on-the-spot coverage.
