SCMP: Tung 'threat' fails to deter Falun Gong (excerpt) Stella Lee Friday, April 27, 2001 Falun Gong members pressed ahead yesterday with plans to demonstrate during President Jiang Zemin's visit next month, notifying police of their intentions in the face of criticism from Tung Chee-hwa. The spokesman for the [group], Kan Hung-cheung, said the movement would continue with its peaceful activities despite the Chief Executive's statement on Wednesday night. [] "Mr Tung is taking a stronger line and what he said contained elements of a threat," Mr Kan said. "But we'll continue to use a peaceful, reasonable and legal approach to express our views." He said members had told Wan Chai police yesterday about their plans to conduct certain activities to protest against the suppression of Falun Gong on the mainland. About 200 followers are expected to hold a rally and conduct activities such as a group exercise when Mr Jiang and business leaders meet at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Chief Inspector Tse Kwok-wai of Wan Chai District said police could only determine whether the Falun Gong request would be met after security arrangements had been finalised. "Lawful demonstrations will be accommodated," said Chief Inspector Tse. "We'll balance the factors concerned like overall safety as there will be heads of state attending the forum." The organiser of the Fortune Global Forum, which will be held between May 8 and 10, said it would not ask police to restrict Falun Gong members. Forum spokesman Terry McDevitt said in New York: "We are part of the media. We support the free expression of opinions. But we hope these expressions will remain peaceful." She said Hong Kong was chosen to host the annual forum as organisers believed there would be many people interested in knowing more about the opportunities presented by Hong Kong and the mainland, especially as China was poised to join the World Trade Organisation. Mr Jiang is expected to arrive in the SAR on May 8 to address the opening dinner, while former US president Bill Clinton will deliver closing remarks on May 10. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will also attend. Mr Tung's remarks were raised yesterday at a UN committee meeting on human rights in Geneva. Lai Wing-yiu, a member of Human Rights Monitor, told the United Nations Committee on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights the comments were a "mere threat". []

SCMP: Forum fears Friday, April 27, 2001 Public demonstrations of discontent are among the things President Jiang Zemin deplores. That was apparent in his angry reaction to protesters during his state visit to the United Kingdom last year. But Mr Jiang was not nearly as angry as many British citizens. Some objected strongly to having their civil liberties curtailed when protesters wearing Tibetan T-shirts were removed from his route and banners with political slogans were confiscated. So they took the matter to court and won. As that shows, peaceful protests are a civil right in free societies. And the politicians they target generally endure them as part of the job. Hong Kong, with its unique position as a democratic society in a socialist state, finds keeping its own comparable freedoms a bit more complicated and there is the ever-present fear these liberties may someday be curtailed for reasons beyond its control. Here in Hong Kong, unlike on the mainland, the Falun Gong is an officially registered society and is not known to have breached the law. However, it is an irritant to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who strives for harmony between the SAR and the central Government. His latest warning to members against causing trouble when Mr Jiang attends next month's Fortune Global Forum demonstrates this. Delegates from around the world will attend the conference, and naturally the administration is keen to have the city show its best face. Unfortunately for economic conferences in Quebec, Seattle, Davos in Switzerland and Washington, mob violence and lawlessness often dominated television coverage and diverted attention from the serious side of the meetings. But unless this event is invaded by the sort of troublemakers who have damaged the cause of genuine protesters, there will be nothing similar here. If the Falun Gong sticks to usual practice, members will confine themselves to quiet demonstrations involving [] exercises. They do say they hope to speak to Mr Jiang, but will not be allowed near him. So cool heads must prevail. Serious trouble that attracts the international press could be deeply damaging to all concerned. Beijing has won universal praise and respect for its "hands-off" approach to Hong Kong. But that could be destroyed in a day, and the SAR's autonomy questioned, if there is heavy-handed treatment of peaceful protesters. A successful forum will help Hong Kong if it demonstrates tolerance and regard for civic liberties. It is up to everyone to see that this peaceful picture comes across. There will be no discord between the SAR and Beijing over the Falun Gong, which Mr Tung fears, if "one country, two systems" continues to thrive. And the system is strong enough to withstand a minor challenge like this.

AP: Hong Kong Leader Under Fire (excerpt) April 26, 2001 HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong's political leader came under fire Thursday for criticizing members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement who planned to protest during a visit by China's president. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa stirred the latest controversy over Falun Gong activities here with a statement accusing group leaders of trying to harm the relationship between Hong Kong and China. [] Critics said Tung had threatened Hong Kong's freedoms by attacking Falun Gong's plans to protest during a visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin. [] Falun Gong adherents said they intend no disruptions through the protest, and pro-democracy politicians and human rights activists were outraged at Tung's statement, issued late Wednesday. "Their protest is 100 percent legal," said opposition lawmaker Cyd Ho. "Why should he be so upset? Is it just because Beijing has described Falun Gong as a subversive group? That is a very horrifying statement." Dignitaries attending the conference sponsored by Fortune magazine will also include former President Clinton. Falun Gong says it will protest Beijing's often-violent suppression of its activities on the mainland - which the [group] believes is occurring under direct orders from Jiang. Falun Gong remains legal in Hong Kong, where citizens continue to enjoy Western-style freedoms of speech and religion that are holdovers from British colonial days. Local Falun Gong follower Sophie Xiao said Tung's remarks were unbalanced and wrong. "He forgot one thing," Xiao said. "There's persecution in China. We can't just blind our eyes."

CNN: HK protests planned for Jiang visit (excerpt) April 27, 2001 By CNN's Patricia Lai HONG KONG, China -- Religious and social groups are hoping to highlight the issues of democracy and poverty in China when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits Hong Kong next month. [] Falun Gong Another group also expected to make its presence felt during Jiang's trip to Hong Kong is the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement. The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, which is also involved in the advertising campaign, says it opposes Hong Kong's apparent willingness to toe the mainland's line on the group, which Beijing has labeled an "[Chinese government's slanderous term omitted]". Its spokesman said they were unhappy with comments made by Hong Kong's Chief Executive regarding the group. "Although we may not agree with the doctrines of the Falun Gong, what they are doing is legal. We don't think Tung Chee-hwa, as Hong Kong's Chief Executive, should criticize them publicly," the spokesman told CNN. He said the Hong Kong government's recent stance on the Falun Gong is to satisfy China and urged the territory's leaders to assert their own sovereignty. []

SCMP: Tung steps up attack on [group] (excerpt) Stella Lee and Kong Lai-Fan Thursday, April 26, 2001 Tung Chee-hwa last night accused Falun Gong members of attempting to undermine relations between Hong Kong and Beijing by planning a demonstration when President Jiang Zemin visits next month. [] The statement - Mr Tung's strongest attack yet on the [group] - was issued after 20 local Falun Gong members petitioned the Beijing Liaison Office in Western yesterday and 200 followers held a practice session in Chater Garden, Central, to mark the second anniversary of a protest outside the Zhongnanhai leaders' compound in Beijing that triggered the crackdown on the group in 1999. Falun Gong members described Mr Tung's statement as slanderous, while critics said it would jeopardise Hong Kong's image and was a hint of tougher action to come against the group. [] It is believed that Mr Tung was taking a tougher line because he believes Falun Gong has taken a higher public profile recently. But Hui Cheung Yee-han, a spokeswoman for the group, said last night members were shocked by Mr Tung's statement. "It's a groundless slander. We're shocked and very dissatisfied about it. He can see from our activities that we're very peaceful. Our activity on May 8 will also be peaceful as usual. We will co-operate with the police," she said. The police issued a statement saying the force would ensure the Fortune Global Forum would be conducted without any interruptions, and lawful demonstrations would be accommodated. Professor Lau Siu-kai, associate director at the Chinese University's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, said the statement was a warning to Falun Gong and was aimed at stopping it from staging any radical action during Mr Jiang's visit. Political commentator Lau Yui-siu said it was unwise for Mr Tung to release such a statement as Hong Kong's international status would be jeopardised. Democrat Cheung Man-kwong said Mr Tung's statement had infringed the spirit of the rule of law, as "it is Falun Gong's freedom to express their opinion". Emily Lau Wai-hing, of The Frontier, described the statement as offensive. "We have to ask him whether Hong Kong still enjoys the freedom of assembly or not. He should not jeopardise these freedoms. Hong Kong is better than the mainland because we enjoy more freedom," she said. [] A dozen Falun Gong members distributed fliers in Macau's main square yesterday to commemorate the second anniversary of the protest in Beijing.