CHINA: AROUND 3000 FALUN GONG MEMBERS STAGE RALLY IN HONG KONG TO MARK NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF MOVEMENT'S FOUNDING

Record ID: 215454

  • Title: CHINA: AROUND 3000 FALUN GONG MEMBERS STAGE RALLY IN HONG KONG TO MARK NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF MOVEMENT'S FOUNDING
  • Date: 13th May 2001
  • Summary: (W3)HONG KONG, CHINA (MAY 13, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS EXERCISING ALONG THE WATERFRONT (2 SHOTS) 0.25 2. COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, TILT DOWN TO FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS 0.35 3. VARIOUS: MORE FALUN GONG PRACTITIONERS DOING EXERCISES (6 SHOTS) 1.17 4. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOPHIA XIAO, FALUN
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • City:
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Reuters ID: LVA4G57SVC65GO9OQKXP98STK8ME
  • Story Text: About 300 members of the controversial Falun Gong have
    staged a rally in Hong Kong to mark the anniversary of the
    founding of their organisation.


    Sporting their familiar yellow t-shirts, the 300 followers
    took part in a meditation exercise before marching
    through Hong Kong on Sunday (May 13) morning.

    The gathering was held to mark the ninth anniversary of
    Falun Dasha day when Falun Gong was founded.

    Falun Gong - which is based on Taoist and Buddhist
    principles - has been banned in mainland China - where
    authorities call it an "evil cult".

    While practicing Falun Gong is still legal in Hong Kong,
    some followers are concerned that the Hong Kong authorities
    are gradually turning the screw on ther religious freedom.

    "We see more difficulty we are facing. We see this is
    probably another evidence of erosion of Hong Kong's freedom of
    speech, of assembly, of religion. We are sorry to see that,
    but until the day we are totally silenced, we will still voice
    for those who cannot speak in China," said Sophia Xiao, a
    spokesperson for the group.

    Falun Gong members have criticised Hong Kong authorities
    for refusing visas to over 100 overseas members who wanted to
    demonstrate their views in front of Chinese president Jiang
    Zemin who was in Hong Kong last week.

    After the meditation session, the Falun Gong followers
    marched through Hong Kong - carrying banners denouncing
    Chinese repression of their group.


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