(Minghui.org) Over the past several months Falun Gong practitioners and supporters in Hong Kong have been repeatedly harassed by members of the Hong Kong Youth Care Association, suspected to be linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Participants in a large-scale march and rally in Hong Kong on September 1 called on chief executive Leung Chun-ying to stop aiding the CCP in its suppression of Falun Gong and harassing those who speak out in support of Falun Gong.
Public figures speak at the rally to show their support
Many public figures spoke at the rally to support the practitioners’ appeals. They called on the public and government leaders to uphold justice and reject the CCP's influence in Hong Kong.
The Divine Land Marching Band leads the march
At noon, the Divine Land Marching Band led the march through one of the busiest areas in Hong Kong, drawing the attention of large crowds of people. Many took photos or videos with their cell phones. Television reporters from Hong Kong and Taiwan were there to report on the event.
Crowds gather to watch the march
Tourists from China Express Support for Falun Gong
Appalled by the organ harvesting atrocities, several Chinese tourists decided to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations
A mother and son and their friend, who had come to Hong Kong to shop, were excited to see the parade. One of them said, “What the Falun Gong practitioners say is true. The Communist regime is very corrupt. We have to shop in Hong Kong because we don’t feel safe shopping in China. We do envy Hong Kong's freedom of speech. This parade is wonderful. We don’t have the luxury of such basic human rights in China.” The three of them asked the practitioners to help them renounce their memberships in CCP organizations, joining the movement to quit the Communist Party, which now includes over 145 million Chinese citizens.
A young man from China videotaped the parade and said, “Removing organs from living Falun Gong practitioners is absolutely savage! The persecution of Falun Gong is unjust.” He supported the practitioners' appeals and said that he would show the video clip to his friends in China.
Ms. Guo from Shanghai said that she was very gratified to see the parade, “It's impossible to see a parade like this in China! There is freedom in Hong Kong.”
Public figures speak up to condemn chief executive Leung Chun-Ying for aiding the Chinese regime's suppression of Falun Gong in Hong Kong.
Legislative Members: We Will Not Allow Leung to Turn Hong Kong into China
The parade reached the Central Government Office at 3:30 p.m. Falun Gong practitioners held a rally on the square in front of the office.
Members of the Legislative Council Lee Cheuk-yan (upper left), Chan Shu-ying (upper right), Lam Wing-yin (lower right), and Tsang Kin-shing, owner of a private radio station (lower left), speak at the rally to support Falun Gong and call for people to stand up to protest the unlawful persecution in China
Lee Cheuk-yan, member of the Legislative Council and chair of Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements, said at the rally, “Recently I heard that a group of Catholics were treated as Falun Gong practitioners and arrested. If we don’t stand up and speak out, many of us may suffer the same fate as Falun Gong practitioners.” Mr. Lee asked people to show their support. “Any kind of persecution is a challenge to our conscience. It’s time to show that we have a conscience.”
Legislator Chan Shu-ying condemned the Hong Kong Youth Care Association: “So many people are supporting us today. This clearly shows that people do not like the Youth Care Association harassing Falun Gong practitioners and sabotaging their information displays. The people of Hong Kong hate it that Leung is turning Hong Kong into China. We should support our Falun Gong friends and continue to help stop the persecution.”
Tsang Kin-shing, owner of a private radio station, denounced the members of the Youth Care Association who were there to interfere with the rally and called them “part of the CCP.” He said, “The largest cult is the CCP. Today we stand up and protect Falun Gong practitioners’ freedom of speech.”
Chinese Regime Involved in Forced Organ Harvesting
Legislator Lam Wing-yin pointed out that the CCP’s illegal organ harvesting is being scrutinized in the trial of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai. “The corruption of the CCP is being completely exposed in the trial.”
Teresa Chu, spokesperson for the Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyers Working Group, warned Leung in her speech not to be the muscle for the CCP by carrying out the persecution in Hong Kong, “Stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners and the just citizens of Hong Kong who dare to speak the truth!”
Tourist from China: I Just Want to Quit the CCP!
Xi (right) and Hua often participate in activities in Hong Kong to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong
Ms. Xi and Ms. Hua, who have been clarifying the facts of the persecution of Falun Gong for a long time, said that many tourists from China loathed the actions of the members of Youth Care Association. One time, even as the members of the Youth Care were attacking and swearing at practitioners, a group of Chinese tourists approached the practitioners asking for help to quit the CCP organizations. One lady in her 50s told the Youth Care members, “Let me tell you, I want to quit, I want to quit the CCP!”
Category: Rallies & Protests
