(Clearwisdom.net) Edward McMillan-Scott publicly declared his membership in the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) during a rally in Hong Kong supporting the 13 million Chinese people that have quit the Chinese Communist party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. The rally was held on the morning of August 26, 2006. The rally was organized by the Epoch Times newspaper and the Service Center for Quitting the CCP office in Hong Kong. Mr. McMillan-Scott also published a joint statement with members of the legislative council in Hong Kong, including Hon Chun-yan, calling on lawyers around the world to protest to their local Chinese embassies and consulates regarding the recent secret arrest and torture of renowned human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, and to urge the Chinese authorities to immediately release Mr. Gao.

Mr. McMillan-Scott has recently traveled to Australia, New Zealand and other places, together with former Canadian MP and Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific, Mr. David Kilgour. The two politicians are raising awareness about the CCP's crimes of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. Mr. McMillan-Scott said at the Hong Kong rally that his decision to join the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong stems from his deep belief in the investigation report about Chinese harvesting of organs from live Falun Gong practitioners, published by Mr. Kilgour and Mr. David Matas on July 6, 2006. He said the investigation report is convincing and credible. Mr. McMillan-Scott said that the CCP must respond to the criminal allegations of live organ harvesting.

Mr. McMillan-Scott said in an interview after his speech that the European Parliament has repeatedly expressed concerns over the treatment of Falun Gong in China. He believes that genocide is happening in China. He came to Hong Kong to express his deep concerns, and warn those accountable for the atrocities that they will be brought to justice at an appropriate time.

Mr. McMillan-Scott stated at the rally: "Today, I'm pleased to declare that we have almost 13 million people who have renounced the CCP and its affiliated organizations. This is a remarkable record, but there is still a long way to go." [quote has been translated from Chinese]