HONG KONG—In less than one minute of carefully planned vandalism on Thursday afternoon, two Chinese men destroyed a display stand at the popular tourist destination Tsimshatsui Harbor that has for several years provided information about the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Police blocked off the scene, collected evidence, and took statements from witnesses. This incident happened only a few days after the CCP arrested five Falun Gong practitioners in China who are residents of Hong Kong.
Professionals Hired by the CCP
According to an eyewitness, a Falun Gong adherent, the two men, said to be in their twenties, split up when they arrived on the scene. One of them knocked down the LCD screen that was used to play nonstop videos about the persecution of Falun Gong, breaking it. The other man splashed red paint on the display boards and the table with Falun Gong materials. Shortly after the assault, they ran to a taxi and took off.
The witness said both of them were Chinese. One of them was about 5'11" with short hair and wore a red T Shirt and white gloves. The other one was about 5'7" and a little overweight. The witness said their actions were well planned. The red paint container was already opened and they had a hard object in their hands for smashing things.
Ms. Chen who was in charge of the stand said the incident was definitely done by professionals. "After we called the police, I saw a man taking pictures. He said it was for his own record and left. Soon he turned around and continued to take pictures from another spot. I think this person was recording evidence so they [the vandals] could report back to whoever hired them."
The circumstances of the attack and the use of red paint caused the witness and visitors to condemn the CCP.
"Since the display stand was set up, many tourists from China have seen just how evil the CCP is in persecuting Falun Gong." Chen added, "With the CCP having to extend the persecution to Hong Kong to threaten us, this incident shows the CCP's mass lies and propaganda against Falun Gong are no longer working."
Though the LCD screen was broken and the displays were ruined by the red paint, Chen said they were not intimidated, "We will do better in telling people the facts of the persecution so that the suppressed Chinese people can see more clearly the nature of the CCP."
Persecution Extended to Hong Kong Residents
In the past month, China's National Security Bureau has arrested several Falun Gong adherents from Hong Kong. On May 18 and 19, Ms Liu, a Falun Gong practitioner's family member, and Mr. Fu, a practitioner, were arrested in Shenzhen City.
The National Security Bureau arrested Liu because she attended activities supporting 20 million withdrawals from the CCP held in Hong Kong. In the past year, a total of four Hong Kong practitioners and a one family member have been arrested. Some of them were sentenced and some still face trials.
Mr. Jian Hongzhang, a Hong Kong Falun Gong adherent, points out the CCP has taken a series of actions to threaten and persecute practitioners in Hong Kong.
According to Mr. Jian, special agents from Beijing are treading on the freedom and human rights of residents in Hong Kong.
Jian asked the Hong Kong government to rescue practitioners illegally arrested in China and to protect the citizens in Hong Kong from being monitored, threatened, and persecuted.
Leung Kwok Hung, a Hong Kong lawmaker, called on the government to help Falun Gong practitioners. Leung also asked the Hong Knog Bar Association and Law Society to pay attention to human rights lawyers in China who have helped Falun Gong practitioners and are now being persecuted themselves.
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