I am an Australian Falun Dafa practitioner, currently staying in Japan as a tourist. On May 7, I arrived at the airport in Hong Kong. While processing my documents at the immigration counter, the officer apparently saw something come up on his computer monitor and announced that he was going to detain me. When I asked why I was going to be detained, I was told that they wanted to ask me some questions regarding immigration issues. After asking me some personal questions, I was told that they wanted to search my belongings. I protested several times and asked for an appropriate reason. After going to his manager for an answer, the immigration officer told me that it was "based on immigration reasons." I asked them, "Exactly what are these immigration reasons?" They replied that they suspected I was carrying drugs or weapons.
As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I cultivate myself according to the principle "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" and would never do anything that violates the law. Not surprisingly, they did not find anything illegal in their search. However, the officer told me that his manager had decided to bar me from entering. After repeated requests, they told me that I would not be not allowed to enter Hong Kong for "security reasons," and that they suspected I would participate in "harmful activities." The officer told me there was an order from above, and he had no choice but to follow it. When questioned about whether this had anything to do with my cultivation of Falun Dafa, the officer did not answer. He would only say that it was because of an order from above, and that they would reconsider my situation the next time I visited Hong Kong.
I have traveled to many countries around the world and have visited Hong Kong many times before. Why was I barred from entering for "security reasons?" Was it because I practice Falun Dafa? People who know about Falun Dafa all realize that Falun Dafa teaches people to be good. Falun Dafa practitioners cultivate their hearts and minds according to the characteristic of the universe: "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." They improve themselves and become better people. In the past 9 years, as Falun Dafa has spread throughout the world, it has benefited both people and the society in which they live, attracting millions and millions of practitioners. How could these Falun Dafa practitioners threaten Hong Kong's "security?"
Was this because Jiang Zemin, who has been persecuting Falun Dafa, is visiting Hong Kong to attend the Fortune Global Forum? Is that why the Hong Kong Immigration Office is barring tourists who practice Falun Dafa from entering? Hong Kong is a society that enjoys democracy and freedom, and Falun Dafa is a legally registered organization there. Is Hong Kong going to change now and begin it's own inhumane persecution against Falun Dafa practitioners? Will people have to curse Falun Dafa to get into Hong Kong, just like they do in China?
I refused to sign the "Notice" I was presented with, since the immigration department did not give me any reasonable explanation or evidence for their decision. Their decision was based solely on the fact that I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. After learning more about the truth of Falun Dafa, the immigration officer said, "I would support you practitioners if I was not on duty." A policewoman that had seen the whole process told me, "Many people in Hong Kong look only at today, with no thought to the future." People all have goodwill, and it is said that a lack of awareness about Jiang's persecution of Falun Dafa is the biggest problem. I sincerely hope that the Hong Kong government will learn the truth about Falun Dafa, so that Hong Kong and its people may enjoy a bright future.
05/08/2000
