UK: Letter from the Falun Gong Association (UK) to Hong Kong CSA

The Magistrate's verdict in the trial of the 16 Falun Gong practitioners underscores his failure to find the inner strength and courage to follow the rule of law in the face of undue pressure and influence from Beijing. Many have observed that this trial, which lasted some 26 days and has featured one of the most prominent and senior of prosecutors -- a man who himself has never before tried a mere obstruction of pavement case -- has been politically motivated and unduly influenced by Beijing. Defence counsel Haynes and Harris have both observed that the government of Hong Kong charged the practitioners with obstructing the pavement in front of the Liaison Office, when in fact the evidence -- which includes the size of the pavement (40 square meters) and the size of the vigil (less than 7 square metres) -- indicates that such obstruction could not and did not occur.

According to defence counsel Haynes, "Both factors give the impression that the government of Beijing attached great importance to the outcome of this trial, that far more is at stake here than the mere obstruction of a pavement; that in fact this trial was manufactured so as to produce a guilty verdict."

The possible negative impact of this sham trial to the rule of law in Hong Kong and to the political and economic future of Hong Kong cannot be overlooked. As an important member of the Hong Kong government you may wish to consider the international impact of the trial on the long-term development of Hong Kong. You will undoubtedly see the importance of the rule of law and the importance of the promise of “one country two systems.”

We hope that you will reverse the verdict as soon as possible and return Hong Kong to the rule of law.