The Freedom Times (Taiwan): My Experience of Being Forcibly Repatriated by Hong Kong Police (Excerpt)

I am a registered attorney in New York State. I work with a financial organization that has foreign investments, and I am in charge of legal issues. I am also a Falun Gong practitioner. I would like to explain how the Hong Kong government forcibly expelled me when I entered Hong Kong with a legal entry visa on June 30, 2002. Since its return to China, the Hong Kong government, under pressure from Jiang's regime, has gradually lost its democratic and legal system, and no longer safeguards human rights.

On the afternoon of June 30, I flew alone to Hong Kong on Eva Air flight No.1855. After the customs officer typed my name into the computer, his look became serious. He asked me for my ticket, and pressed the red button under the desk. Soon a policeman arrived, and took me to the administrative office. That was when I realized that the Hong Kong government had a blacklist of Falun Gong practitioners.

The administrative office was packed with policemen and passengers who were being held there. I saw many familiar faces sitting quietly. These people were from different backgrounds and walks of life, but most held one thing in common: they were Falun Gong practitioners. We were from Taiwan, Australia, the United States, and Japan. One practitioner told me that he had been detained there for more than eight hours. Even some passengers who were not Falun Gong practitioners complained that they were not allowed to enter. The police could not give them a sound reason. A five-month-old baby had been detained for over ten hours, just like the adults. A mother with a baby in her arms couldn't help crying, watching her other child lying on a chair, while her husband shouted complaints. They were detained simply because they had the same names as Falun Gong practitioners. The Hong Kong government chose not to let them enter no matter what the cost to human rights; however, the officers dared not explain that it had something to do with Falun Gong.

When I was first detained, I asked to see the supervisor of the Immigration Bureau. I told them that I was an attorney, that I was legally entering Hong Kong, that I had no criminal record, that I had been to Hong Kong several times without any trouble, that our company had a branch in Hong Kong, and that the supervisor of my company's international department could prove that I was innocent. Why couldn't I enter? A supervisor whose family name is Huang said, "For security reasons, we cannot let you enter Hong Kong today." I asked, "I have been to Hong Kong before. I have no criminal record, and you have no indications that I have any criminal intention or even a suspicion of any criminal intent. How can you have any "security reason" for not allowing me to enter? I need to know the real reason." He mumbled, "Hong Kong doesn't welcome you this time." I asked why he could not tell me the real reason for refusing my entrance. He said that I should know why in my heart, but he could not say it openly. I asked him to look at me carefully and reply to me honestly: Am I really a bad person? Why should I be treated in this way? He eventually said to me, "I know that you are not bad people. This is not your fault. I am the one in a wrong position."

I knew clearly in my heart that they could only use the "security reason" excuse and not reveal the fact that it was because of Falun Gong. Since Falun Gong is a legal organization in Hong Kong, and its activities are legal as well, it is not reasonable from the point of law and justice to block Falun Gong practitioners from entering Hong Kong to attend legally approved activities. Nor is it reasonable to hold them because of a blacklist created because of Jiang's political pressure, due to his fear of Falun Gong. The officer at the Immigration Bureau could not tell me the real reason. In carrying out this task, he didn't know how to reply to us, because he knew that justice was not on their side. The officer's supervisor told me in private that we might be able to enter Hong Kong after July 5, but he could not guarantee it.

At the moment, they tried to repatriate two female practitioners from Australia. The two practitioners would not go voluntarily. Therefore, they intended to put the two practitioners into burlap sacks and carry them to the plane (two practitioners from Taiwan had been expelled this way). Some male practitioners from Australia stopped them and said loudly, "Police cannot be so rude." Before that, the police had confiscated a Japanese practitioner's tape recorder in order not to leave any record of their brutality. I then turned to the seven or eight policemen on the spot and said, "Look at this lady. Why doesn't she want to leave? Because she didn't do anything wrong. You have no idea that she might do anything to damage Hong Kong's social order. Why do you treat her so rudely?" None of the policemen present responded. Their faces showed indifference. In the end, the two female practitioners were forcibly carried away.

At 8 p.m., the officer from the Immigration Bureau said to me, "You cannot enter Hong Kong today. We'll repatriate you to Taipei." I answered, "I will agree to leave if you will listen to me for ten minutes." He nodded his head and I explained, "I had a tumour three years ago. It disappeared without the use of any medicine after I practiced Falun Gong. Ever since then, I have become stronger, healthier, and more peaceful in my mind. Ever since then, I, as a woman, have been to many countries to teach people Falun Gong with only one wish: that everybody can be healthy and be a good person. Every country welcomes us. It is not reasonable for Hong Kong to treat us like this today under pressure from the Chinese government. I sincerely hope that you are healthy and peaceful as well." He appreciated my remarks and replied, "If I tell the real reason, I'll lose my job. With this uniform on, I have to obey orders. At my age, I am clear in my heart about the truth. You are not being expelled because you are bad." I asked him to think about it again after he took off his uniform, explaining, "It is wrong to expel a group of good people who cultivate Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. Even though you don't practice Falun Gong, you should be able to distinguish between right and wrong. You should place Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance in your heart and become a truly good person.

He lowered his head and dared not look at me.

The policemen then examined my luggage. They told me everything was fine with my luggage. I then held two pieces of my luggage up and spoke loudly to the policemen standing nearby and outside the gate, "You have just examined my luggage, and didn't find a gun, a shell or any forbidden things. Remember, it is wrong for you to expel a good person who has done nothing wrong. It is the fault of your government and Jiang, who made you commit such a wrongful act because of his own personal political desires." The policemen were silent and didn't touch me. Together with five Taiwanese passengers who were not Falun Gong practitioners, I returned to Taipei, taking the evening flight.

Both Hong Kong and Taiwan are societies with democratic legal systems. I should have confidence in Hong Kong's rule of law; however, I have seen a difference in the last two years in how the Hong Kong government treats the local Falun Gong practitioners, and even Falun Gong practitioners from Taiwan and other countries who have gone to Hong Kong to attend legal activities held there.

Over the past half century, Hong Kong has had a good reputation internationally, as the people of Hong Kong have safeguarded their democratic and legal systems. The spirit of "one country, two systems" that has been maintained since 1997 should not be sacrificed simply to satisfy Jiang's personal quest. What is being sacrificed is not simply the freedom of Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners' beliefs and freedom of assembly, but the confidence of the entire international community in Hong Kong's adherence to a democratic and legal system.