Noted Chinese-Australian Artist Zhang Cuiying Denied Entry into Hong Kong for Painting Exhibition

Media Release [August 22, 2002]

Ms. Zhang Cuiying, a Chinese-Australian painter and a Falun Gong practitioner, was refused entry at the Hong Kong International Airport on August 22. Hong Kong Falun Gong group issued the following statement.

"Ms. Zhang Cuiying, a Chinese-Australian artist and also a Falun Gong practitioner, came to Hong Kong to hold an individual art exhibition sponsored by a media company, yet she was refused entry by Hong Kong authorities without justification. This is another event that has brought disgrace on Hong Kong, a self-proclaimed cosmopolitan city. After July of this year, overseas Falun Gong practitioners are still barred from entering the territory.

If the pressure due to Jiang Zemin's visit served as the excuse to reject over one hundred overseas practitioners from entering the territory in July, what could possibly be the excuse this time to stop an artist from holding a normal art exhibition? This proves once again how accommodating the SAR government has become to the pressure from the Jiang regime. The shadow cast by the dictatorship of Jiang is evident in every facet of Hong Kong society, and has also been eroding the basic rights and freedoms of people around the world. If the SAR government does not immediately rectify its errors and redeem the loss, not only will Hong Kong be unable to sustain its reputation of being an open and free society, but also the rule of law, human rights and the free lifestyle that Hong Kong people have enjoyed will be severely damaged.

It is our hope that the SAR government will immediately correct its mistakes. We are also calling on the people of Hong Kong to stand up and stop the Jiang regime from spreading its brutal dictatorship to Hong Kong and other overseas regions. Inasmuch as the rights and freedoms of Falun Gong practitioners are being defended, the future of all Hong Kong residents are being defended.

It was learned that Ms. Zhang arrived at Hong Kong International Airport around 2 pm on August 22 from Australia. She planned to attend an opening ceremony of her individual painting exhibition, but she was detained at the airport without justification, and was subsequently forcefully deported around 7 pm.

Since 2001, Ms. Zhang has successfully held personal art exhibitions in more than twenty countries around the world. Her work has won praise from the international arts community and been frequently collected by art museums and celebrities.

Contact Persons:

HUI Yee-han 9879-9879 Sharon Xu 9263-4150 Sophie Xiao 9108-2057