Letter to Supporters of European Friends of Falun Gong Highlighting the Unjust Trial in Hong Kong

Thank you very much for your recent letter and kind support for the cause of the Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China. The situation is indeed very serious for many millions of people and urgent action is required in order to persuade the Chinese government and Jiang Zemin in particular to end the persecution.

We have been very active over the last couple of years in campaigning to gain the release of thousands of practitioners in China and to end the ban on the practice of Falun Gong, but there still appears to be no sign of relenting on the part of the Chinese government. With your considerable experience of diplomacy in many fields, we wonder whether you could suggest any ideas on how to approach the Chinese government in its rigid stance on Falun Gong.

One particular event which is unfolding at the moment is the trial for obstruction of 16 practitioners in Hong Kong following their arrest during a peaceful appeal there last March. It is highly significant that the Hong Kong authorities appear to be unable to break the stranglehold exerted on them by Beijing, and a decision to release these practitioners by the Hong Kong authorities would show Beijing that they cannot simply ride roughshod over Hong Kong’s desire to conduct its own affairs in a fair and constitutional manner.

When the UK returned Hong Kong to China in 1997, China promised that there would be no changes in the way it was governed for 50 years – one country with two systems – but it is now only 5 years later and already China has gone back on its word. In a recent report produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jack Straw stated that it is vital that the basic rights and freedoms afforded to the people of Hong Kong through the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law continue to be upheld. The report also stated that there had been a number of controversial incidents relating to Falun Gong, incidents which were widely regarded as examples of Hong Kong’s disregard for human rights when under pressure from China. One such incident was the banning of 100 overseas Falun Gong practitioners from entering Hong Kong during the recent celebrations of the 5th anniversary of the handover. The report also pointed out that the British government believes that freedom of assembly and freedom of speech must not be compromised if Hong Kong is to retain its image as a free and open society.

It would be very much appreciated by all Falun Gong practitioners worldwide if you could help this urgent cause by calling upon the Hong Kong authorities to release the practitioners and not to be swayed in their actions by the considerable weight of pressure from the central Chinese government. If you do write a letter, please could you forward us a copy of your letter?

I will also enclose a copy of the petition letter, including the name and address for correspondence. I will also enclose for your information two magazines produced by Falun Gong practitioners.

Thank you once again for your kind help and support, and I hope that everyone’s contribution to the cause of Falun Gong practitioners will ultimately bring an end to the persecution.