News Review: International Media Focus on the "Public Obstruction" Case;
What Direction is the Hong Kong Government Taking?

With regards to the legal case in which Falun Gong practitioners are charged
with "public obstruction," defense lawyer Paul Harris made closing remarks
on August 7, in front of the judge. Recently, major media all over the world
have focused on Hong Kong and are reporting on the case. Under the surface
of this issue, the implied focus is on the future of Hong Kong.

Reuters reported on August 7, "The Hong Kong government's decision to
prosecute the 16 Falun Gong practitioners has raised questions about
freedoms in the territory five years into Chinese rule. Falun Gong
[practitioners] on public obstruction charges has raised worries that Hong
Kong is curbing human rights and clamping down on Falun Gong group, which is
banned in mainland China but allowed here." A special article in the
American "Intervention Magazine" directly pointed out that the Basic Law is
being tested and said that the result of the "public obstruction" case is
regarded as an omen of Hong Kong's future. People are closely watching
whether the "one country, two systems" policy truly exists, and what
direction the Hong Kong government is taking.

On August 7, Reuters reported that "...the local government's decision to
prosecute the 16, who include four Swiss nationals, has raised questions
about freedoms in the territory five years into Chinese rule. Hong Kong
police have allowed Falun Gong protest in most situations because this is
regarded as a rule to measure the politics and religious freedom of Hong
Kong. The trial coincides with what appears to be a tougher stand by Hong
Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa against Beijing's critics."

The Associated Press reported August 7 that "The trial of 16 Falun Gong
members -- including four Swiss -- on public obstruction charges has raised
worries that Hong Kong is curbing human rights and clamping down on the
[group], which is banned in mainland China but allowed here.

Another Associated Press report said that a defense lawyer told a magistrate
that on Thursday 16 Falun Gong [practitioners] must be acquitted on
obstruction charges or Hong Kong's guarantees of free speech and assembly
would mean nothing. "This prosecution is completely misconceived", attorney
Paul Harris argued, wrapping up his case on the 26th day of Hong Kong's
first-ever criminal trial against Falun Gong practitioners." In addition,
South China Morning Post reported on August 8, "the footpath where Falun
Gong protesters were arrested for obstruction outside the Beijing Liaison
Office in Connaught Road was wide enough to stage a mini-concert or park six
cars, a court was told yesterday. Police were also accused of undermining
their case as the barriers they erected after the arrests on March 14 took
up four times the space the protesters had occupied. Mr Haynes said police
had been "influenced" to clear the footpath because the Beijing Liaison
Office had the status of a semi-consulate building. Instead, he said, the
whole prosecution case was based on the views of police and liaison office
security guards."

A special article by Danny Schechter entitled "A trial in Hong Kong Puts
China On Trial", was published in the American "Intervention Magazine". The
article mentioned that, "The trial has been a joke. The prosecution called
no third-party witnesses, only police and Liaison Office security guards.
The judge was openly biased against Falun Gong, projecting an attitude which
legal observers fear will impact on his verdict."

Schechter also said, "Video footage and eyewitness accounts testify to the
peaceful nature of the protest on a sidewalk that is approximately 30 feet
wide. The demonstrators had occupied an area no more than ten feet across,
leaving ample room for pedestrians. "Soon, 50-60 police surrounded the
practitioners blocking off the entire sidewalk, some charged, choking some
of the practitioners, and squeezing their pressure points Chinese style.
They were then all dragged away and arrested."

Further, the author mentioned that "But now that law is being put to a legal
test that could well decide whether China will respect the freedom of Hong
Kong or further choke off free expression there." "China's trial has
provoked criticism worldwide. The outcome of the trial at a time when Jiang
Zemin is indicating that he may refuse to step down for a transition to new
leadership in China is being viewed as a bellwether for the future."

(ClearWisdom)

Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2002/8/10/34618.html