My Illegal Detainment at the Hong Kong Airport

I took China Airlines Flight 617 to Hong Kong for the Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference. I had an entry visa issued by the Hong Kong Government, but I was detained without being given a reason at the Hong Kong airport. I unfurled a banner with the words "Falun Dafa is Good" in front of the travellers. Immediately, six airport policemen rushed towards me and took away the banner by force. They dragged me to a temporary detention room. I shouted out "Falun Dafa is good!" Many travellers noticed the violence that the airport security used against Falun Gong practitioners. During the process, they injured my right hand. Later I was locked in the detention room alone for over one hour. At my request, they allowed me to be with other detained Taiwan practitioners.

Airport policemen try to coerce practitioner onto a return flight	Five policemen carry off a practitioner	A practitioner protests the policemen's use of violence

A vicious plainclothes policeman throws a practitioner down to the ground by his neck	Policemen use violence against practitioners
The plainclothes policeman curses at the practitioner that he just threw to the ground	The practitioners explained the truth to young security guards

The practitioners were held at an immigration entry point. In order to hide their evil behaviour, the police even closed off all the entrances into this area. About ten practitioners unfurled a "Falun Dafa is Good" banner, and the policemen rushed in to seize the banner by force. In about 30 minutes, numerous groups of policemen were stationed around the area. Another group of plainclothes policemen stealthily entered the area from the back. They dragged the practitioners into an isolated detention room and ordered everyone to sit down. I didn't sit down. One vicious policeman grabbed my neck, threw me to the ground and then began to curse at me. There were about twelve practitioners detained in the room. The policemen who used violence all hid their nametags. Some of them had navy uniforms but didn't wear the nametag. One policeman even put the nametag into a pocket in front of the practitioners, after another policeman reminded him. Even they know that their acts are shameful.

The airport authorities detained us without giving a reason for a long time. We were held without food or access to a toilet. Some elderly practitioners requested to use the toilet. Even such basic human needs required approval from several levels of higher authorities. They had to use the toilet while being monitored by two temporary hired students. I complained to their officer, but he rudely replied, "If you want to use the toilet, then do it. If you don't, then get out!" It's such a shame that these young people were used as tools to persecute Falun Gong. The practitioners understood that they were simply deceived by propaganda and began to tell them the truth behind the Jiang regime's lies. A few of them were able to understand the truth.

The air in the sealed detention room got worse and worse. We asked several times if they could leave a door open to let in some fresh air. The answer was "No". An immigration officer named Lu Jiarong rudely threw two female practitioners to the ground and seemed to enjoy doing so very much. We protested to the officers several times and later the situation improved. At around 10 a.m. on February 22, a large group of policemen and hired thugs came into the detention room. They began to send the practitioners onto a return flight. If any practitioner didn't comply with them, four or five men would carry away by force. The 15-hour-long detention let us see that Hong Kong is sinking to new depths. Even before Article 23 is legislated, they could trample all over human rights like this. What will happen if Article 23 is enacted?

Hong Kong, once the Pearl of the East and so proud of its democracy and freedom, is losing her glory because the government refuses to listen to the people's voice. At this important historical time, we hope that more people will become aware of the evil, help to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China, and prevent the persecution from extending to Hong Kong through Article 23. This shameful charade must stop immediately.