January 14, 2005

Canada protested to Beijing on Friday after it abruptly revoked the visas for two television reporters seeking to accompany Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin on a visit to China next week, officials said.

The two work for the New Tang Dynasty network, a Chinese-language satellite station. Beijing says New Tang is run by members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China [...] but is legal in Hong Kong.

Martin spokesman Scott Reid said the embassy's decision to revoke the visas late on Thursday was of great concern.

"Senior officials immediately expressed to the Chinese ambassador the government's dissatisfaction and requested a reinstatement. The reply was not positive," he said.

"Our embassy in Beijing is making very strenuous representations to China's foreign ministry. This is a serious issue and the government of Canada is taking it seriously."

Falun Gong members regularly hold protests on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and outside the Chinese Embassy to complain about what they say is persecution by Beijing.

Martin will leave Canada early Saturday morning on a tour of Asian countries. He is due to be in China and Hong Kong from Jan. 20 to 23.

http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_national.asp?id=50727