05/10/2001

HONG KONG -- For the first time, Hong Kong is facing coordinated international pressure over its human-rights practices, with Canada and Australia joining a growing chorus of nations in expressing concern over the city's treatment of Falun Gong practitioners.

The two nations on Wednesday echoed U.S. and British statements a day earlier, saying they were concerned that in recent days Hong Kong had barred entry to practitioners of Falun Gong who hold Canadian and Australian passports.

A spokesman at the Canadian Consulate said the government was concerned that nationals had been refused entry, saying freedom of association and expression was "an important part of an open and civil society." Australia said "it is important for Hong Kong to avoid actions that are inconsistent with freedoms of expression and association that are guaranteed in Hong Kong."

The international concern expressed demonstrates how the status of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, has become a yardstick for the city's freedoms. The meditation group is banned and persecuted in China as a threat to [party' name omitted] rule but it remains legal in Hong Kong, although subject to occasional verbal attacks by Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and other officials.

Falun Gong practitioners reported that more than 100 have been refused entry in recent days and claimed the city had a list of high-profile followers it was barring from entry. However, at least this number of practitioners successfully entered and took part in demonstrations during this week's visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Comments by the four governments followed a similar form. All said they realized the city had a legitimate right to decide border control policies, then expressed concern that by denying entry to large numbers of foreign passport-holders on grounds apparently linked to religious faith, Hong Kong was weakening its status as an international city.

Dr. Michael DeGolyer, an associate professor in the Department of Government

Category: Persecution Outside China