Falun Gong plan Hong Kong demos for Jiang

By CNN's Patricia Lai

HONG KONG, China -- The Falun Gong group, banned on the mainland, is planning to stage a range of events when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits Hong Kong next month.

The group plans to showcase various events including the Falun Dafa exercise group practice, photo exhibition, flyers distribution, and to hold a seminar during May 8 to May 10 when the 2001 Fortune Global Forum takes place in Hong Kong.

"Jiang Zemin is expected to be here, so are many world leaders and international media, it's a good chance to tell the truth about our group and to urge the Chinese authority to stop suppression," Falun Gong spokesperson Kan Hung Cheung told CNN.

The group expects some 200 local practitioners and other overseas followers to participate.

A Hong Kong newspaper has speculated that Jiang may cut his one-week trip short to avoid protests from groups such as the Falun Gong.

"We won't be surprised if we can't see Jiang or Jiang can't see us. I think we will be denied from different access to the president," spokesperson Sharon Xu said.

The group will notify the Hong Kong police at least seven days before their demonstrations, a procedure required by law.

The group says 191 Falun Gong members have died in China from physical and mental torture.

More than 500 have been jailed, 600 put in mental hospitals and another 10,000 kept in labor camps.

See related sites about Asia

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.