Question to the European Commission from a Member of European Parliament, Regarding the Unjust Trial in Hong Kong

On March 14, 2002, 16 Falun Gong practitioners (4 Swiss, 1 citizen of New Zealand and 11 Hong Kong citizens), held a peaceful hunger strike in front of the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong to call for an end of the killing of innocent people in China. Although photos and video footage clearly show that they only appealed peacefully, posed no threat, and left plenty of room for pedestrian traffic, Hong Kong police forcefully removed them from the site. On August 15, the demonstrators were put to a trial on the base of the accusations, i.e., of blocking traffic and attacking police, and eventually declared guilty of ’“obstruction of public order” and of six other incriminations and condemned to pay a fine of 29,300 HK$. (About £2,380).

Question from Olivier Dupuis, member of the European Parliament and Transnational Radical Party, to the European Commission

“What information does the Commission have on this issue? What initiatives has the Commission taken or does intend to take in order to obtain the annulation of the condemnations on the 16 Falun Gong practitioners? More generally, what initiatives has the Commission taken or does intend to take to urge the Hong Kong government to respect the basic human rights and, in particular, the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion or belief, freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration?”