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Human Rights Issues -- June 2002
Follow-up of the prosecution against Falun Gung members
(June 18, 2002) (Article 21)
Committee set up to promote racial harmony (June 21, 2002) (Article 4)
Committee set up to promote racial harmony (June 21, 2002) (Article 4)
The Hong Kong SAR Government had established the Committee on the Promotion
of Racial Harmony, which was the first committee especially for racial equality.
The Government spokesman said that the function of the new committee is to advise
the Government on public education and publicity to foster racial harmony in
the community and to enhance mutual understanding between persons of different
ethnic origin. The Committee is chaired by the Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs
and has twelve members.
Follow-up of the prosecution against Falun Gung members (June 18, 2002) (Article 21)
The SAR Government firstly charged the Falun Gung protestors of obstruction of the streets together to the offences of resisting a public officer lawfully engaged into a public duty and assault the police outside Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR. However, all the defendants denied the charge. The four accused with Switzerland passport commented that they were bitterly disappointed by the actions of the SAR Government as it had seriously destroyed the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. They would seek help from the international community and human rights organizations. The hearing was adjourned and continued on June 17.
On June 17, the hearing was continued. As the incident has already raised the
concern of the Switzerland Parliament, the Switzerland Consul had delivered
the official to attend the hearing. The Switzerland Government had sent a letter
to the Secretary for Judiciary by expressing a serious concern to the incident
and criticized that the charge had seriously damaged the image of Hong Kong
SAR in the international community.