(Clearwisdom.net) The Hong Kong government used a blacklist provided by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to deny entry of Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners and violently deport them beginning on June 25. After being unreasonably deported twice by the Hong Kong government, Taiwanese human rights lawyer and Director of Human Rights Law Foundation Asia, Ms. Theresa Chu, delivered a petition letter to the Legislative Yuan and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on June 28, requesting that the Taiwan government pay close attention to the illegal treatment and violent deportation of Taiwanese by the Hong Kong government.
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Falun Gong practitioner and human rights lawyer Ms Theresa Chu delivers a petition letter to the Legislative Yuan on June 28 |
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Ms. Theresa Chu delivers the same petition letter to Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). Director of the Department of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs, Tsai Jr-Jung, accepts the letter. |
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FTV reporter interviews Falun Gong practitioners |
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Some Falun Gong practitioners hold display boards at Kohsiung Airport to tell the public about the deportation of Taiwanese by the Hong Kong government |
Ms. Theresa Chu and other Falun Gong practitioners who were deported went to the Legislative Yuan to deliver a petition letter on the afternoon of June 28. The petition letter stated, "We ask President Chen Shui-bian to request the Hong Kong government to immediately release the detained Taiwanese and allow them to enter Hong Kong, to apologize to the Taiwanese, to observe the Basic Law and to reject the CCP's persecution policy.
Ms. Chu said it was the largest deportation between Taiwan and Hong Kong. One hundred and forty Falun Gong practitioners had been deported. Hong Kong advocates freedom and human rights. Hong Kong should respect their own advocacy and exercise autonomy. The petition was very simple. Taiwan was founded on the basis of human rights. The government should protect its people, especially when the people were unfairly and violently treated while holding legal travel documents. The government of a country founded on human rights should stand out to strongly protest against and condemn the Hong Kong government.
Chen Ming-tong, member of the Mainland Affairs Council, had pointed out at a press conference that the intervention of the CCP has been increasing in the past ten years since Hong Kong was returned. Hong Kong's "high-degree autonomy" had been turned into "high-degree domination."
Regarding the deportation of Falun Gong practitioners, Mr. Chen said Falun Gong enjoyed freedom of organization and freedom of belief in Taiwan. It is a world-wide organization, practiced in Hong Kong and in the U.S. He had seen people doing Falun Gong exercises in parks when he visited China. It was then suddenly banned a few years later. It was hard for him to believe it was now a banned group. Hong Kong, as a society claiming freedom and openness, should respect people's freedom of organization and assembly after its handover.
Chen said it was very unfortunate that Falun Gong practitioners who went to protest weren't allowed to enter. He said, "It proves that a government of autocracy can not support a free and open society." A free and open society would allow these people to express their opinions. He regretted the actions of the Hong Kong government.
A reporter asked if the Mainland Affairs Council should request an explanation from the Hong Kong government about the blacklist, because some non-Falun Gong practitioners with similar names as practitioners were also deported.
Mr. Chen said that even former Taiwanese officials were refused entry to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government's blacklist is pointless. It should be open. Only an autocratic power would stage such a thing. It will not help with the exchange between Taiwan and Hong Kong, but instead create obstacles.
When accepting the petition letter, Director of the Department of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Tsai Jr-Jung said Hong Kong would not allow the MAC Office in Hong Kong to deliver blankets and food to the Falun Gong practitioners who were denied entrance. It was a very bad gesture. It was hard to believe for Hong Kong which claimed to stress democracy and rule by law. He would ask the MAC Office in Hong Kong to continue their effort and request a formal explanation from the Hong Kong government. He said that if the Hong Kong government insists on continuing like this, it would lose its international image. It was also very unreasonable for an airline to refuse boarding to its customers.
Taiwanese and Falun Gong practitioners deported by the Hong Kong government on the afternoon of June 28 were interviewed at Kaohsiung Airport. They strongly condemned the Hong Kong government for denying entry of Taiwanese people based on the CCP blacklist. It contradicts freedom, democracy and rule by law. Many of them showed their bruises from when the Hong Kong police forcibly deported them by wrapping them in anti-riot blankets or tied them to camp beds.
When Ms. Liao Shu-hui said she was a reporter and started working with her camera, cell phone and recorder, the Hong Kong officials resorted to violence and snatched Ms. Liao's camera and cell phone. It caused several bruises on Ms. Liao's hands.
The Association of Taiwan Journalists issued the following statement regarding Hong Kong officials' hindering the reporter's work and forcibly deporting the Taiwanese reporter.
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The Association of Taiwan Journalists sternly condemns the Hong Kong government for snatching the reporter's camera, cell phone and recorder, deleting pictures and forcibly hindering the reporter's work. The Association criticizes the Hong Kong government for ignoring freedom of press.
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The fact of denying the reporter's entry and deporting her by force has proved a retrogression on freedom of press since Hong Kong was returned ten years ago.
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The Association of Taiwan Journalists is seeking assistance from the Association of Hong Kong Journalists, and will request an open explanation from Hong Kong Customs soon.
According to the Falun Dafa Association in Taiwan, one hundred and forty Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners have been deported. Two hundred and seventy were denied visas. Nineteen weren't allow to board planes in Taoyuan.
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