Testing The “One Country – Two Systems” Policy

Gothenburg, Sweden June 27, 2002 (European Falun Gong Information Centre) – Before the fifth anniversary of 1 July, a Swedish citizen, among others, has been denied entry to Hong Kong because of China’s "black list" of Falun Gong practitioners.

Mimmi Svensson, 35, from Varberg, Sweden, was today denied entry to Hong Kong and is now being detained by Hong Kong police. The police in Hong Kong claim it is for security reasons, but it is probably because she is on the so called black list that the Chinese regime created in their efforts to control and persecute Falun Gong practitioners even outside of the Chinese borders.

When China’s dictator Jiang Zemin recently visited Iceland, many Falun Gong practitioners on this black list were denied entry to Iceland. At the Lithuanian border Maria Sahlin from Sweden was interrogated for more than one hour because she was on the same list. The fact that China has the ability to exert such pressure on democratic countries is a scandal, especially considering the peaceful nature of Falun Gong practitioners. During almost 3 years of persecution, Falun Gong practitioners both inside and outside China have always used peaceful and lawful means to protest against the persecution of Falun Gong.

China’s regime is trying in every way to slander Falun Gong, even outside of China, and especially in Hong Kong. Falun Gong is not banned in Hong Kong as it is in China. However, when 16 Falun Gong practitioners in March this year were carrying out a peaceful, and totally lawful, protest against the persecution of Falun Gong in China, they were brutally taken away by Hong Kong police. The policemen used violence, in spite of the fact that the practitioners resisted passively. Absurdly the practitioners were accused of have being violent. Since 17 June these practitioners have been on trial. The trial has drawn the attention of many people, since the principle of "one country - two systems" is really being tested.

The Swede, Mimmi Svensson has not committed any crime. We can’t accept that Swedish, lawful citizens are being persecuted because of the pressure from China.