Hong Kong: Hong Kong Practitioner's Sister in Beijing Incarcerated After Hong Kong Visit

On the afternoon of July 6, Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference urgently calling to rescue Xiao Haiying, a Beijing resident who just returned from a trip to visit her sister in Hong Kong, Sophie Xiao, known by many to be a Hong Kong Falun Gong spokeswoman.

Xiaohai Ying visited her sister and toured Hong Kong with the proper travel documents issued by the Chinese government. As soon as she landed in Beijing Airport she was taken away and questioned by Chinese Public Security Bureau accused of "sabotaging social order." She was also asked to confess her mother's whereabouts. Her mother had to leave home since October 2000 due to avoid constant police harassment due to her being a Falun Gong practitioner. They wanted to get to Haiying's mom so they could send her to brainwashing class. The public security officers also claimed that another reason for Xiao Haiying's detention was her contact with overseas Falun Gong practitioners.

Hong Kong Falun Gong Spokesperson Kan Hung-cheung	Sophia Xiao with her sister's photo

Sophie Xiao said that she had not seen her sister and mother for 3 years. Last time the sisters got together was in Beijing in October, 2000. Because Mainland China was notorious for its ruthless torturing and killing of Falun Gong practitioners as well as forced brainwashing, Sophie was worried about her sister and mother's safety. She also expressed her indignation to their illegal arrest and unfounded accusation.

Sophie stated that Falun Gong has been brutally persecuted in China but is still freely practised in Hong Kong which is part of China. This very fact has made Jiang Zemin very angry. Several days ago, more than 500,000 Hong Kong residents walked onto streets to protest Article 23 legislation, which directly targets Falun Gong. The march indirectly supported Hong Kong Falun Gong's rights and apparently shocked Beijing.

As one of the spokespersons of Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners, Sophie Xiao has made statements on several occasions to media criticising Article 23 and National Security Bill on behalf of Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners and called on Hong Kong people to guard against Chinese government extending its dictator rule into Hong Kong. She thinks her sister's arrest is related to her activity in Hong Kong.

Sophie Xiao pointed out that Jiang regime's ruthless suppression of Falun Gong has been condemned by governments and people around the world. Jiang Zemin and several of his accomplices such Luo Gan, Zeng Qinghong had been sued in US and European courts.

Sophie Xiao demanded that the Chinese government release Xiao Haiying and other innocent Falun Gong practitioners arrested in China. She also admonished lawless Chinese officials and police to discern right from wrong, keep their conscience, and not be Jiang's scapegoats.

Presently Xiao Haiying is detained in a Public Security Bureau detention centre. The location is unknown. Her family and colleagues were told not to visit.