Dow Jones: HK Falun Gong Follower Released By Chinese Authorities

November 21, 2003

HONG KONG (AP)--A Falun Gong practitioner from Hong Kong who was detained for a week by mainland Chinese officials said Friday he had been released after authorities found no evidence against him.

Wayne Tang, a 51-year-old businessman who also holds British citizenship, was arrested in Shenzhen which borders Hong Kong on suspicion of organizing Falun Gong activities in China [...]

Tang said he was released by the State Security Bureau in Shenzhen Thursday and immediately returned to Hong Kong. He said mainland officials found no evidence against him after searching his home and office.

In a phone interview, Tang confirmed he practiced Falun Gong, but denied organizing activities with mainland followers. Beijing is seeking to eradicate Falun Gong through a campaign that the group says has left hundreds of people dead.

At a Falun Gong news conference Wednesday, a relative had identified Tang's Anglicized first name as Ray. Tang said she may just have mispronounced it.

Tang said he was arrested Nov. 13 at the offices of a fashion design company owned by relatives in Shenzhen. Three employees were detained for possessing Falun Gong materials, Tang said.

Tang and a Falun Gong spokeswoman, Sophie Xiao, said they didn't know whether the employees were released.

Calls to China's Ministry of State Security seeking comment went unanswered.

Falun Gong remains legal in Hong Kong, which is governed separately from the mainland and enjoys Western-style civil liberties under an arrangement dubbed "one country, two systems."