HONG KONG (AP) - About 250 Falun Gong followers marched peacefully Sunday to the office of the Chinese government to denounce Beijing's crackdown on the spiritual group in the mainland, police and a protest organizer said.

The protesters read a statement outside China's local liaison office and about 100 stayed behind to meditate across the street, organizer Kan Hung-cheung said.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the protest, which came two days ahead of the fifth anniversary of Beijing's crackdown on Falun Gong [...]

Police spokeswoman Kaman Chong confirmed the protest but didn't have a crowd estimate. Kan said about 250 people participated.

Falun Gong is allowed to practice freely in Hong Kong, a former British colony that enjoys Western-style liberties under Chinese rule.

However, the group accuses local authorities of hindering their activities, including banning foreign followers from entering the territory. Kan said Falun Gong teaches healthy exercises and posed no threat to the Chinese government, calling it an "activity that builds up the body and teaches people to be good.''

He accused former Chinese President Jiang Zemin of ordering the group's suppression in 1999 out of "jealousy and fear.''

China has jailed more than 6,000 Falun Gong followers while at least 1,007 of them have died in Chinese custody, Kan said, adding that many were tortured to death. China has denied abuse. An operator answering the phone at the liaison office said no one was available for comment.-AP

Source http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/7/18/latest/18053FalunGong&sec=latest