(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in London held a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy on January 23 and January 25, 2010 respectively, protesting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for pressuring the Hong Kong government to sabotage the Shen Yun performance in Hong Kong. Practitioners in Scotland held a similar protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh on January 24, 2010.
A rally in front of Chinese Embassy in London to protest the CCP for pressuring the Hong Kong government to sabotage the Shen Yun performance in Hong Kong
The highly renowned world-class performing arts company, Shen Yun Performing Arts, was scheduled to give seven shows in Hong Kong, but three days before their departure time, the Hong Kong government informed the hosting organization that they refused to issue visas to six essential production staff members. The decision forced Shen Yun to cancel its performances in Hong Kong.
The news made many people in the U.K. who are concerned about Hong Kong and love Shen Yun, shocked and indignant.
On the afternoon of January 23, Falun Gong practitioners and overseas Chinese in London held a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy, protesting the CCP for sabotaging the performances in Hong Kong. Protesters held two banners reading "Strongly protest the CCP's instigating the Hong Kong government to sabotage Shen Yun performance," and "Uphold Hong Kong's freedom and 'one country, two systems'" in both Chinese and English.
Hong Kong citizen Ms. Sharon said that she was disappointed and felt it a shame that the Hong Kong government bowed to the Chinese Communist regime and surrendered its conscience. She thought the incident is more evidence that the CCP ignores the policy of "one country, two systems," and infringes upon Hong Kong people's human rights. She called upon Hong Kong citizens to stand up to urge the government to correct its mistake.
Ms. Li said that the more the CCP interferes, the more Shen Yun Performing Arts will be spread wider and farther. She believes that Shen Yun will sooner or later perform in Hong Kong, and in mainland China.
On the afternoon of January 25, 2010, practitioners held another rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in London to express their strong protest. A representative of the UK Falun Dafa Association said that as a hosting organization of Shen Yun performances in the UK, the association was shocked at the news. He thought the incident showed that the Hong Kong government caved in to the CCP's political pressure. He believes that Shen Yun will definitely return to perform in Hong Kong.
A representative of European Friends of Falun Gong condemned the CCP regime's intervention over Hong Kong's affairs, turning Hong Kong a puppet of the totalitarian regime.
Falun Gong practitioners in Scotland held a similar protest activity in front of the Chinese consulate in Edinburgh on January 24, 2010. Many people took flyers from practitioners, criticized the CCP and showed sympathy for Shen Yun staff after learning what had happened. Some people encouraged practitioners to keep up the good work.
The largest newspaper in Scotland The Scotsman covered the practitioners' protest activity on January 24, 2010.
