South China Morning Post: Falun Gong arrests `within days'

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Victoria Button and Agencies

08/21/2002

Hong Kong authorities are moving to arrest Falun Gong members who have refused to pay fines imposed last week after being convicted of offences including obstruction.

A government spokeswoman last night said a warrant would be issued in "a number of days" in accordance with the Magistrates' Ordinance, but she refused to be more specific.

Magistrate Symon Wong Yu-wing on Monday refused a request on behalf of the members that the fines of between $1,300 and $3,800 be deferred until an appeal was heard. Those convicted face between seven and 14 days' jail if they fail to pay the fines, which were due by Monday.

A Falun Gong spokeswoman confirmed the fines had not been paid as a matter of principle.

"This is not right and we will wait until the appeal is complete and our names have been restored," she said.

The convictions, relating to an anti-Beijing protest in March, were the first in Hong Kong involving members of the movement, banned on the mainland in 1999.

The convicted members - 11 Hong Kong residents, four Swiss nationals and one New Zealander - denied the charges. [..]


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