Thursday May 10 2001

POLICE in Hong Kong have cracked down on protests during a visit by Jiang Zemin, the Chinese President.

Hundreds of members of Falun Gong, the spiritual group, tried to demonstrate during the visit but were barred by 3,000 police.

Emily Lau, a veteran legislator, said that it was another sign freedoms were under attack. "Hong Kong is going backwards when we compare the political development now with that of the colonial era under Chris Patten," she said.

The Foreign Office also told Hong Kong to maintain its record of openness this week after British Falun Gong followers were refused entry to the former colony.

The organization is still legal in Hong Kong but members have complained about attempts to intimidate them. A Falun Gong spokesman said that they found it difficult to book hotel rooms for functions and were worried about losing their jobs.

Martin Lee, an Opposition politician, said: "Falun Gong has become the first real test of 'one country, two systems'. Now we see the slow erosion of civil liberties."

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