Falun Gong members in Hong Kong say fellow practioners have been tortured and killed by mainland police
March 18, 2001
HONG KONG, China -- An anti-cult exhibition staged in Hong Kong has attracted the ire of practitioners of Falun Gong -- the religious group banned by China.
Members of the spiritual group protested their inclusion in the exhibition Sunday, handing out leaflets rejecting official criticism of their [group] and showing photographs of members allegedly tortured by Chinese authorities.
The small gathering of demonstrators were protesting an unprecedented anti-cult exhibition organized by local pro-Beijing organizations.
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One Falun Gong follower was thrown out and another two prevented from entering when the exhibition opened Saturday.
Members vowed Sunday to continue to their demonstration until the event closed.
Test of freedoms
The controversial movement has become the biggest test to date of the freedoms that Beijing granted Hong Kong when Britain's colonial rule ended in 1997.
"They are spreading negative information about us so we just want the public to understand the truth," said follower Robert Tsang. "I went in this morning -- all the stuff was false and misleading."
There was also friction inside the exhibition venue.
A foreign man in attendance was expelled after quarreling with security guards and holding up a sign critical of the [party].
The man, who spoke with an American accent but declined to identify himself, said he was not a follower of Falun Gong but acted "for the sake of what is true and right."
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Increasing attacks
Beijing has stepped up its attacks on Hong Kong's Falun Gong movement after about 1,000 adherents from around the world held protests and a conference at the territory's City Hall in January.
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Hui Yee-han, spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa, said Friday it regretted that Beijing was vilifying the movement with such an exhibition in the territory.
"They have distorted our aims and practices. It's a lie. The materials are fake," Hui said, adding that she would probably visit the exhibition.
The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/03/18/hongkong.falungong.02/index.html
Category: Falun Dafa in the Media