Letter from UK MP to Hong Kong Chief Executive

Sections of the international media have reported that, on14 March 2002, Police Forces in Hong Kong detained 16 Falun Gong practitioners, including 4 Swiss nationals, as they held a peaceful public vigil in front of the Chinese Liaison Office; and that during those arrests, the Police used strong arm tactics, thereby injuring 9 Falun Gong adherents; and that shortly afterwards, those practitioners were charged, for the first time in Hong Kong, with causing obstruction.

Sections of the international media have also reported a series of incidents, which indicate an erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong; for example, on 15 April 2002 a well-known human rights activist, Mr Harry Wu, was refused entry at Hong Kong airport, despite having been allowed to visit Hong Kong on previous occasions.

I am also concerned about reports that the goverment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is proposing to introduce a "subversion" law, which could all too easily be used to suppress dissent.

I should be grateful if you could let me know the background to the above reports; and the position generally regarding peaceful freedom of expression in the HKSAR; and in particular the position of Falun Gong practitioners in the HKSAR.