Vice President compares refusal of entry to 2-28 incident; demands public
apology
By Jessie Ho
Vice President Annette Lu yesterday conveyed her strong discontent
to the Hong Kong government for unreasonably refusing entry to Taiwan Falun
Gong members between February 21 to 22, saying that it should offer a public
apology and punish the officers who carried out the mistreatment that
included violent manhandling.
“This incident is similar to the 2-28 Incident in that it affects human
rights,” Lu told a press conference. ” The government will look into this
case to see if the same abuse will be exerted on any Taiwanese who visit
Hong Kong in the future.”
Over 80 Taiwan Falun Gong members on February 21 and 22 went to Hong Kong to
participate in a global assembly but were refused entry and repatriated
after being detained for many hours. Some members were reportedly tied up by
police before being sent home.
The assembly was to discuss matters regarding opposition to the legislation
of Hong Kong’s Basic Law Article 23 – a law that is considered a grave
threat to human rights that has aroused strong opposition from Hong Kong
people and human rights supporters around the world. It is believed that
many Falun Gong disciples, of all nationalities, were refused entry to Hong
Kong for this reason.
The Mainland Affairs Council on February 22 issued a press release to
protest to the Hong Kong government, Hong Kong authorities replied that they
dealt with the Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners’ entry applications in
accordance with the regulations.
“Those who were rejected entry to Hong Kong held valid entry visas,” said
Chu Wan-chi, a representative of the Taiwan Falun Dafa Institute
who witnessed the mistreatment. “Those who were repatriated by Hong Kong
customs will seek compensation for violation of their human rights.”
Chang Ching-hsih, Director of the institute, suspects that Hong
Kong customs might have compiled a “blacklist” of Taiwanese Falun Gong
practitioners from the group’s Website.
“This incident shows that human rights in Hong Kong have deteriorated after
the handover in 1997,” Lu asserted, “I hope related government departments
will keep taking action to safeguard our people’s rights.”
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2003/03/02/1046579574.htm
Posting date: 4/March/2003
Original article date: 2/March/2003
Category: Media Reports
