TAIWAN/FILE: Exiled Tiananmen dissidents denied entry to Hong Kong for funeral of late pro-democracy icon Szeto Wah

Record ID: 721420

  • Title: TAIWAN/FILE: Exiled Tiananmen dissidents denied entry to Hong Kong for funeral of late pro-democracy icon Szeto Wah
  • Date: 28th January 2011
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (JANUARY 27, 2011) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CHINESE DISSIDENTS WANG DAN AND WU'ER KAIXI AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE DISSIDENT WANG DAN SAYING: "We were hoping that we could keep a low profile and go to Hong Kong to say goodbye to Uncle Wah, even just to get a last glimpse of him. But even this small wish cannot be carried out after we put in so much effort. I feel very sad." REPORTERS AND CAMERAS FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE DISSIDENT WANG DAN SAYING: "I feel sorry for Uncle Wah, and hope he rests in peace in heaven. We are very sorry that we cannot say goodbye to him. Meanwhile, I also feel sorry for Hong Kong, because I see that 'one country, two systems' is dead in Hong Kong, and we are very concerned about Hong Kong's future." PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE DISSIDENT WU'ER KAIXI SAYING: "He was a democracy activist. It is a show of disrespect to the dead by the Hong Kong government by not allowing other democracy activists to attend his memorial service. It is gross neglect of duty committed by the Hong Kong government. It is also a show of disrespect to the public opinion in Hong Kong. I have said it before, but I want to stress again that the decision is against Hong Kong's independence and freedom."
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Taiwan, Province of China, Hong Kong, China
  • City:
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABR95JA5PAQ5ZRV2GS8H9VTYJS
  • Story Text: Two former student activists who escaped to Taiwan after China's 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, said on Thursday (January 27) that they had been denied entry to Hong Kong to attend the funeral of Szeto Wah, a founder of the democracy movement.
    Szeto was a one-time Hong Kong legislator who helped many dissidents flee China after the bloody crackdown during the Tiananmen protests, which saw hundreds, if not thousands, of people killed.
    The funeral for Szeto, who died on January 2, aged 79, from lung cancer, is scheduled for Saturday (January 29), and thousands of his followers are expected to attend He was affectionately nicknamed 'Uncle Wah', but was a long-time thorn in the side of Beijing's Communist leaders.
    Wang Dan, who shot to fame as a top leader of the Tiananmen protests more than 20 years ago, said he felt sad for not being able to attend Szeto's funeral.
    "We were hoping that we could keep a low profile and go to Hong Kong to say goodbye to Uncle Wah, even just to get a last glimpse of him. But even this small wish cannot be carried out after we put in so much effort. I feel very sad," said Wang.
    Wang also said that the incident showed the "one country, two systems" arrangement, the post-colonial agreement to let Hong Kong run its own affairs, is nonexistent.
    "I feel sorry for Uncle Wah, and hope he rests in peace in heaven. We are very sorry that we cannot say goodbye to him. Meanwhile, I also feel sorry for Hong Kong, because I see that 'one country, two systems' is dead in Hong Kong, and we are very concerned about Hong Kong's future," he added.
    The other dissident, Wu'er Kaixi, whose family still lives in China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, accused the Hong Kong government of bowing to Beijing.
    "He was a democracy activist. It is a show of disrespect to the dead by the Hong Kong government by not allowing other democracy activists to attend his memorial service. It is gross neglect of duty committed by the Hong Kong government. It is also a show of disrespect to the public opinion in Hong Kong. I have said it before, but I want to stress again that the decision is against Hong Kong's independence and freedom," he said.
    The two said they will try to take part in the funeral service via conference call.
    Szeto played an active role in fighting for democracy in Hong Kong and mainland China, and helped to organise an annual memorial and candlelight vigil in Hong Kong for victims of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.
    Hong Kong was a former British colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, amid promises of a high degree of autonomy.
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