Press Releases and Media Reports

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Dow Jones: HK Opposition Lawmakers Protest Anti-Subversion Bill

2003-02-27

'A controversial anti-subversion bill came before Hong Kong's legislature Wednesday, prompting a walkout by opposition lawmakers who burned it in effigy while pro-democracy activists ripped up a copy and threw pieces from a public gallery. Critics say the bill threatens Hong Kong's freedoms, which are left over from British colonial days.'

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EFIC Press Release: Torture and Police Terror Lead to Another 16 Falun Gong Deaths in China

2003-02-26

'Falun Gong practitioners are often bound, beaten, brutally tortured and even disfigured with wooden batons and electric cattle prods. Brainwashing and mental tortures are also extensively used, and often, practitioners are force-fed toxic liquids, even those mixed with human feces and urine, when they protest with hunger strikes.'

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AFP (Agence France Presse): Falungong [protest] treatment of Taiwanese practitioners

2003-02-26

'Victim Lu Li-ching said she suffered bruises to her hands and mouth when she was escorted by force to the plane. "Eight riot policemen wrapped me up with a blanket," Lu told AFP. "A flight attendant witnessing the scene told me she had never seen police resort to such brutalities on civilians."'

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AFP (Agence France Presse): US concerned about human rights in China: Powell [Excerpt]

2003-02-26

'US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday the United States was concerned about "setbacks" in China's human rights record.'

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North Holland Daily: Falun Gong Practitioners Show Exercises in Victory Park

2003-02-25

This article was written on the day when a practicing site was established in Victory Park. This is the first time that Falun Gong practitioners have practised in the park. The author happened to pass by without being notified beforehand. He decided to write this article soon after he saw the scene. A photographer was sent there last Saturday to take photos to complete this article.

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Ming Bao (Hong Kong): 80% of Middle Class Citizens Surveyed Concerned About Article 23 Legislation

2003-02-25

'Results of the survey showed that over 80% think that if the Article 23 legislation passes, their confidence in freedom and rule of law in Hong Kong will be reduced. Seventy percent of the participants said that they have considered leaving Hong Kong and emigrating because of Article 23.'

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Apple Daily Commentary (Hong Kong): Article 23 Draft Alarming

2003-02-25

'Article 23 of the Basic Law is a law that will affect the important rights and freedom of seven million Hong Kong citizens...the recently proposed draft is filled with different types of traps and the government even squeezed in things like secret trials. How can such a law not worry the people, and how will Hong Kong's people be able to sleep at night?'

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Chronicle Washington Bureau: Democrats demand China free Li

2003-02-24

'Eighty-two members of Congress, led by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Atherton, have asked the Chinese government for the immediate release of Charles Li, a Menlo Park man China suspects of sabotage but who the American officials say is being persecuted because he is a Falun Gong follower.'

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Taiwan News: MAC protests Hong Kong's mistreatment of Falun Gong members

2003-02-24

'All of the Taiwan Falun Gong followers were forcefully repatriated back to the island last evening, even though they had valid Hong Kong visas. According to the MAC, Hong Kong immigration officials even rudely treated some Taiwan followers, tying them up in anti-riot blankets and forcing then on Taiwan-bound aircraft. "We protest this kind of mistreatment of our citizens," the MAC said in the statement.'

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China Post: MAC protests 'brutal' treatment of Falun Gong members in HK

2003-02-23

'The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday protested what it called the "brutal" treatment dozens of Falun Gong members from Taiwan received in Hong Kong as they were denied entry into the former British colony and sent back with six of them being tied up. "Some of the (ROC) nationals were even tied up and carried onto the plane. We strongly protest the brutal treatment by the Hong Kong government," the council said about the Friday incident at the Hong Kong airport.'

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Apple Daily: Honesty and Credibility Go Bankrupt

2003-02-23

'The government of Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region ignores the objection of most of its citizens and insists on implementing Article 23 into the National Security Bill...this will cost the government the loss of its honesty, the bankruptcy of its credibility, and the loss of the public's trust in them.'

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AFP (Agence France Presse): Free Press at Risk From Proposed Hong Kong Law, Journalists Warn

2003-02-22

'The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Friday warned that a proposed anti-subversion law poses a grave threat to freedom of expression in Hong Kong...Human rights and pro-democracy groups fear that China could use the new law to suppress freedoms including those of media, speech and religion, as well as to ban groups it considers a threat.'

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The Washington Times: Proposed [anti-subversion] law sparks concern

2003-02-22

Many observers say they believe at the heart of this proposed legislation lies Beijing's continuing crackdown on the outlawed Falun Gong movement. [Falun Gong] is illegal on the mainland but under Hong Kong law members are free to practice. Falun Gong supporters and human rights activists fear the new laws will be used to shut down the movement in Hong Kong.

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Cambridge Evening News: ‘Thanks to a kind stranger’

2003-02-20

"Though our practitioners have never accepted any donations from the public Dr Li told me she could not reject you at all, a beautiful girl with such a very kind heart. She and everyone who has heard this story are very touched by you and so am I. I have not been able to give Yongjie your teddy bear but as soon as she is released I would like to invite you to join me in giving it to her."

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German International Criminal Law Scholar: “Those who persecute Falun Gong will face trial on Criminal Charges”

2003-02-19

Radio Free Asia interviewed Ms. Zheng, who is from Zhejiang University in China and is a scholar specialising in the research of international criminal law. Ms. Zheng stressed that the international community is paying more and more attention to the crimes and violations of basic human rights and freedom.

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