Print

Mail

wiki links

HK government stays mum on deportations

The Hong Kong government refused yesterday to offer evidence in a legal challenge against its deportation of four members of the Falun Gong spiritual sect, one of the applicants said.

The unusual step, endorsed by the Chinese territory's deputy leader, was taken because government lawyers said releasing the information could have compromised national security, the lawyer Theresa Chu (朱婉琪) said.

Chu was among 80 Taiwanese members of the sect deported from Hong Kong in February 2003 after they flew in to attend a conference.

She said immigration officials "roughly mistreated" her and her three co-applicants who are challenging their deportation.

The four Falun Gong members have declared their entry denial and the "violence" used by the authorities in handling the Falun Gong members as "unlawful."

Supporters protested outside the High Court on the first of what is due to be a three-day hearing.

China outlawed the group as an "evil cult" in 1999 and has since detained or imprisoned tens of thousands of members.

The group says its members are tortured for refusing to give up their beliefs.

Members of the quasi-religious Falun Gong group regularly gather outside Chinese embassies and consulates overseas to protest against Beijing's crackdown of the group.
This story has been viewed 1556 times.