[Minghui Net] When I visited Hong Kong twice before--last year and earlier this year--I didn't have any problems entering the city with my Chinese passport. However, on my third visit, at 10:30 PM on May 6, 2001, when I arrived at Immigration Control at the Hong Kong airport, an immigration officer took my passport. He checked it against their electronic system. Never even raising his head to look at my face, he motioned to another officer to take me to a small room. Without providing any explanation, he told me to wait there. I was detained for four hours. During that time I was body-searched. All this time, several immigration officers were posted as guards outside the door. They even sent two people to follow me to the toilet.
I found out that another three Falun Gong practitioners were also being detained. We asked if we were being denied entry into Hong Kong because we were Falun Gong practitioners. They didn't answer. For one of us, this was a first-time to visit Hong Kong. She asked the immigration officer to explain why she was being denied entry. At the same time, we told them that the Falun Gong cultivation group remains legal in Hong Kong. We asked them point blank why they particularly detained the four of us Falun Gong practitioners. They finally admitted that our names were in their system. Another practitioner witnessed an immigration officer underlining her name on a long list of names. Obviously, we are all on their "blacklist." We have long heard that special agents overseas have been collecting names for these blacklists, and today we saw its effect. The four of us are all from the United States: two are permanent American residents and the other two are American citizens. Four hours later, the immigration officers asked me to sign the form denying my entry. I refused to sign, because they didn't give me any reason for refusing my entry, and I had not broken any law or behaved illegally.
The "Notice to Passengers" states clearly: 'During detention, passengers are allowed to make phone calls to the consulates of their countries, their lawyers, friends and family members, and they can also make appointments to meet with each other.' However, our repeated requests to be allowed to make phone calls were for various reasons constantly delayed. They did not consent to phone calls until three o'clock in the morning, when they knew it would be difficult for us to find anyone to contact. They promised to let us contact our lawyers and consulates the next day, and then separated us into individual, small rooms respectively. We were not allowed to speak or have contact with each other. There were at least four immigration officers outside guarding the door. At 7AM the next morning, May 7th, they forced us to leave Hong Kong. They first separated us, and then called me out. I saw they were well prepared. There were about 40 50 security guards and policemen, wearing different uniforms, standing in a large room. After the director of the Immigration Department checked my passport, he immediately asked me to leave Hong Kong. I said, "Last night you agreed to let me make a phone call to the American Consulate. Why did you break your promise? Besides, I request to know the reason for being refused entry." They were speechless.
Several security guards came up and tried to pull away my luggage and forcibly subject me to another body search. I refused to submit to what they were trying to do. I reiterated my requests, but the director still didn't answer. At that time, a stout policeman spoke to other officers in Cantonese. Immediately, a dozen of them surrounded me and started pulling my arms and legs, trying to push me down. They struggled for a few minutes, but couldn't do it. Shortly after that, another two strong men came and they at last lifted me up, and then put me down. Using a very stiff plastic rope, they tied up my hands and feet, and wrapped me in two large pieces of double-layer-thick blankets. I felt as if I couldn't breathe. I said out loud, "set me free, set me free!" When they carried me to the gate, an official-looking man came up to me and said they could release me, and claimed at the same time that their behavior was civilized. They put me down on the floor, cutting my ropes with a sharp knife. I asked them, "You employed several dozen people to subdue me, a small and weak woman. You tied me up and carried me to the plane. Is this your civilized behavior?" He said, "These are our regulations. We treat every person boarding the plane just like this." I asked him, "Do you carry all boarding passengers to the plane like this?" He wouldn't answer my question. Finally, because of my insistent request, I was able to make a phone call to my friend in Hong Kong, telling him about my situation. Then, a dozen of them escorted me to the aircraft through a secret tunnel. Two people videotaped the whole process.
Shortly after, they escorted the other three practitioners to the aircraft. They didn't dare to let us know the reason for refusing our entry.
In fact, what is worth mentioning is the clearly stated paragraph on the "Notice to Passengers": "The authorities may deny your entry in accordance with 'item eleven of Rules for Entry.' Your personal possessions or valuable goods are all under your own care." However, during my detention, though I asked on several occasions, they refused to show me the wording of "item eleven." At the same time, Hong Kong's Immigration Department knowingly violated the law, because they confiscated my video camera, my camera, and tape recorder, which they did not return until they escorted me to the aircraft.
One policeman said to me, "Actually, you are all quite good. We have no other choice but to follow directions from above."
My experience in Hong Kong enables me to deeply understand that due to Jiang Zemin's fear of Falun Gong, he has no regard for the policy of "One country, two systems," an executive order issued by the Chinese government for recognition of Hong Kong's special status. He forces Hong Kong's executive organizations to take the lead in violating the law. Hong Kong has long been a place of democracy and freedom. Jiang Zemin damages Hong Kong's reputation, her society and her legal system. What consequences will he bring to the government of Hong Kong and to its future? It is definitely a question to ponder and an issue worthy of thinking about by all people around the world.
May 9, 2001