Finland: Letter from the Falun Dafa Association to Hong Kong Officials

10.3.2003
Helsinki, Finland

Dear Hong Kong officials,

I am writing on behalf of the Finnish Falun Dafa Association. We have been following closely the situation in Hong Kong regarding the new draft of Article 23. You may be aware, that many governments and associations around the world are very worried for the future of Hong Kong in the event of the regime adopting this draft. Why are they worried? They feel that Article 23 will be used against certain groups or people who are seen as a “threat” by the Chinese government, instead of it really being used to safeguard national security. In Finland for example, our country’s biggest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, reported that, “Hong Kong is preparing laws that will slate human rights.”

Why do I write you? Because you can really make a difference for the future of Hong Kong by voting against Article 23. It is obvious to all of us, that behind this legislation there is pressure from the leaders in Beijing, who want to get a stronger grip on Hong Kong. For example, they have been trying to eradicate Falun Gong for the last three and half years in Mainland China, which is reported to be the biggest human rights violation against one group of people in the world today. However in Hong Kong Falun Gong can be practised freely without any harassment. Authorities from the central government have openly expressed their will to ban Falun Gong in Hong Kong too.

Falun Gong teaches people to become good persons with higher ethics and morality. Based on the principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance it is really guiding people to become better and healthier. This has brought so many benefits to many societies, including China and Hong Kong. Do you really think that it’s wise to follow pressure from Beijing to implement new laws, which can lead Hong Kong towards state terrorism? It is really inconceivable why a government would be willing to ban something that raises morality and gives good health – more than that, they are ready to even torture these people to death in order to have them “give up.”

Despite the repression and persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have not given up. And we will not give up until this persecution is ended, and justice has happened. It is widely known in the world what Falun Gong is – they all know it is a wonderful thing. Did you know that the Chinese government supported Falun Gong before 1999? Falun Gong has won hundreds of awards and proclamations for it’s free teachings that have offered righteous principles and guidance for over 100 million people in more than 60 countries. And every day new people are coming to learn.

Falun Gong has been banned and persecuted in China for the last three and half years. The Chinese government has used every possible means to eradicate this peaceful practice. What are the results? According to human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the United Nations and the European Union, over 100,000 people have been illegally sent to labour camps, thousands into mental hospitals and prisons and hundreds have died for torture in the custody of Chinese authorities, solely because they refuse to denounce their firm belief in the principles of Falun Gong: Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. This campaign for eradicating Falun Gong by the Chinese government has been strongly condemned by most countries in the West. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland brought up concerns for Falun Gong practitioners during his last visit in China. Attacking non-violent people, who only wish to live moral and peaceful lives, using means that seriously violate basic human rights, and defaming the public with fabricated stories in the media -- this is totally unacceptable everywhere in the world today, and it will be judged by history sooner or later.

We really hope that you can think about this issue seriously from all perspectives. If the new laws are adopted, it means the end for Hong Kong’s democracy and civil rights – we can then forget about the “One country, two systems”.

Are you ready to let the people of Hong Kong face state terrorism against Falun Gong, as in Mainland China? Have you considered what the outside world will think of legislation, which can ruin their businesses, their financial investments or just their holidays in Hong Kong, because their ideology, thinking or religion is not in fit with that of the leadership in China? What can be a national threat to society is definitely not freedom of speech or conscience, but a lack of justice and kindness in the minds of the country’s leadership.

At the moment Jiang Zemin and the “610” office have been sued in court for genocide in the US. Please do not support the new law that allows for Jiang’s terrible human rights atrocities to take place in Hong Kong. Please support the righteousness and justice for these are what all people feel is most important. This will definitely create a more wonderful and happier future for you too.

Yours Sincerely

The Falun Dafa Association of Finland