U.S. and Hong Kong (2002)

Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 14, 2002

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QUESTION: I'd like to ask about the detention of 40 foreigners in Beijing protesting the banning of the Falun Gong there. Do you know how many Americans are in that group? And are you doing anything on their behalf?

MR. BOUCHER: We don't know yet. Reports are the Chinese police detained as many as 40 people after a demonstration in Tiananmen Square. Our Embassy has made representations today requesting notification of any American citizens who might have been detained, and of course requesting consular access to them.

We have not been notified of any Americans by the Chinese, but we continue to seek this information, and we really -- we just don't have the answers yet.

QUESTION: Do you think you might by the end of the day?

MR. BOUCHER: Given that it's 2:00 a.m. or something in China, probably not.

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QUESTION: Just going back to China, these days, especially now, presidential visit will take place to China. Religious people or religions, especially ones that are under persecution. So what the United States is doing really, or how much the President will discuss this issue ongoing?

MR. BOUCHER: This has been a subject of repeated discussion with the Chinese. It has been part of our discussions on human rights generally, on freedom of religion. We have raised concerns about the way the Falun Gong were viewed and treated. We have raised concerns about the way Roman Catholicism is treated in China. We do believe in freedom of religion for all groups.

Once again, we have repeatedly called on China to permit the free exercise of religion in China. That applies to Roman Catholics and some of the other practitioners. We raised, as you know, recently the case of the gentleman that was accused of smuggling bibles. We are thankful he has been let out and allowed to go back to Hong Kong.

So this has been an issue that we have raised repeatedly, and I would expect we would continue to do so at whatever level we talk to the Chinese, including the President.

QUESTION: What response do the US get from the Chinese, because this -- as you said, this has been ongoing for many, many years. Each meeting takes place between China and US, the issue comes there -- human rights and religious persecution.

MR. BOUCHER: I would say that we have gotten responses in some particular matters and particular cases. Sometimes we have been told to mind our own business, but then something happens that's productive. I would cite the fact that we did raise the question of the bible smuggling case, and for whatever reason, the Chinese decided it was appropriate to let the man go back to his family in Hong Kong.

So we will continue to raise these cases. It is important to the United States, and we will continue to do so. It is important for us -- the Chinese bringing their practices into line with international practice, frankly.

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