(Clearwisdom.net) Taiwan's Vice President Lu Hsiu-Lien, two organizers of the Human Rights Consultation Team and Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference on March 1, 2003. They protested the Hong Kong government's treatment of Taiwan Falun Gong practitioners, denying entry to 80 and expelling them back to Taiwan. Vice President Lu Hsiu-Lien said that this violated human rights and was as evil as the "228 Affair" that happened in Taiwan 56 years ago. Ms. Lu called on the people of Taiwan to be aware of the Hong Kong government's human rights violations and asked other related governmental departments to condemn these actions.

Taiwan Vice President Lu Hsiu-Lien (right) hosted the Human Rights Consultation Team press conference in President's Hall and condemned the expulsion of the Falun Gong practitioners.

Taiwan media outlets reported that over 450 Taiwan Falun Gong practitioners flew to Hong Kong to attend the Falun Gong conference with visas issued by the Hong Kong government. However, the Hong Kong authorities detained 80 practitioners at the airport. The Hong Kong authorities used violence in expelling them, injuring the practitioners in the process.

"Hong Kong's Human Rights Have Fallen"

Vice President Lu Hsiu-Lien hosted the press conference as the coordinator of the President's Hall Human Rights Consultation Team, together with two other coordinators and several Falun Gong practitioners who were involved in the affair. She strongly condemned the Hong Kong authorities for using violence in barring and expelling Taiwan Falun Gong practitioners.

Ms. Lu said that the recent events in Hong Kong were merely the tip of the iceberg, and the government will step up to protect human rights. She also wanted other governmental departments to voice their objections to the Hong Kong authorities.

Ms. Lu stated that citizens should pay attention to Hong Kong's human rights violations. If the Hong Kong government doesn't change its ways, the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners will happen to other people from Taiwan. She also pointed out that this is proof that Hong Kong's human rights have fallen.

Ms. Lu said that four million trips are made each year from Taiwan to Hong Kong. Hong Kong was "the Pearl of the East" and "Light Tower of Freedom" in people's minds, yet these human rights violations have happened in Hong Kong. It reminded her of when in 1991 she deliberately tested China by attempting to attend the Beijing National Day celebration by going through Hong Kong. The Hong Kong immigration department knew her identity, so they politely denied her entry. Now, when the Taiwan Falun Gong practitioners went to Hong Kong, they were not only denied entry but also wrapped in canvas and violently expelled. "Beijing of 1991 was even more civilized than Hong Kong of 2003. How has the Pearl of the East deteriorated so fast?"

Vice presidential coordinator Mr. Liu Ford stated that the Hong Kong government should apologize publicly for the misbehaviors of its customs and police officers. The Hong Kong government should conduct an internal investigation into its procedures and implementation of these procedures in dealing with visitors, especially those with valid visas.

It was reported that Taiwan's Administration Department has issued a strong protest to the Hong Kong government February 20, 2003 regarding this incident.

The President of the Taiwan Falun Gong Association, Mr. Chung Ching-his, said that there are over 800 public Falun Gong practice sites in Taiwan, and some of the practitioners' names are published on the website. It is quite possible that the Hong Kong authorities used a "black list" of names to deny entry to Falun Gong practitioners.