Hong Kong: Practitioners Appeal to the SAR Government, Calling for Action to Rescue Fellow Practitioners Detained in Mainland China

On November 3rd, dozens of Falun Gong practitioners, members of rescue organisations as well as victims' family members appealed to the chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) and the newly elected legislative council respectively. The practitioners called for action to rescue Falun Gong practitioners and family members who are being illegally detained in Mainland China.

Appeal in front of Legislative Council	March to SAR government compound	Reading an appeal letter

The appeal group first marched from Charter Park to the SAR government compound, where they submitted an appeal letter to the chief executive. Practitioners said that the persecution of Falun Gong in China didn't automatically stop after Jiang Zemin stepped down and the recent arrest of Zhang Lihong, wife of Hong Kong practitioner Kong Senqia, was just another example of that. Ms Zhang has been conducting a hunger strike for several days since her arrest on October 27th, and her life is at stake. Sun Zhongwen, a Hong Kong practitioner who has been illegally sentenced to 4 years in prison, recently wrote to his family members. In the letter, he said that his health was deteriorating. Both Zhang and Sun need to be rescued urgently. Practitioners request the SAR government not to dodge its responsibility and to take immediate concrete actions to help Falun Gong practitioners and practitioners' family members detained in China.

Four Hong Kong practitioners have been illegally sentenced to prison terms by Chinese authorities for their belief in Falun Gong. Moreover, at least six Mainland relatives of 5 Hong Kong practitioners are being detained in labour camps or prisons.

Ms Zhen Xiulan, mother of Sun Zhongwen, burst into tears when others mention Sun to her. She said that Sun's health condition was bad before and was significantly improved after he started to practise Falun Gong. Since Sun was detained, the prison authorities don't allow him to practise and yet force him to do long hours of heavy labour. Consequently, Sun's health has gotten worse and worse and he even passed out once. The whole family worries that Sun might die at any time. They hope the SAR government can rescue him as soon as possible.

After the of appeal to the SAR government, practitioners went to the newly elected legislative council which was in session to submit an appeal letter. They called on all legislative council members to help practitioners persecuted in China: one letter, one phone call or even one signature will make a difference.