Hong Kong bars entry of over 100 Falun Gong followers

HONGKONG, China -- At least 100 overseas Falun Gong practitioners have been barred from entering Hong Kong since the end of last month, the group has said.

The group has issued a statement saying those detained "were treated as criminals, being forced into detention centers and deprived of their basic rights and freedoms."

In mid-January, about 13 practitioners were denied entry as the group held their annual conference in Hong Kong.

"This time more of our practitioners are barred. We suspect it's because this time Jiang Zemin is here," Sophie Xiao told CNN.

The 100 barred include 55 from Taiwan, 19 from Australia, 7 from the U.S. and others from Macau, the U.K., Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The statement said luggage were searched and mobile phones confiscated. Immigration officers did not even allow detainees to go to lavatory for long periods.

"The authorities couldn't give a clear and substantial reason for barring their entry from beginning to end, only citing empty phrases such as 'security reason' or 'order from above'", the statement said.

Immigration Department

About 30 members are still being detained in Hong Kong immigration and may be deported at any time. Some of them have sought help from the foreign embassy in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department said they would not comment on individual cases.

Director of Immigration Ambrose Lee has said the Immigration Department will not deny entry to someone because of their religious background. He said they do not have a list of Falun Gong followers.

Secretary for Security Reginal Ip has said there people are denied entry every day by Hong Kong Immigration. The department is acting according to the law, she said.

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