Sect deportee complains she was pushed, gagged
A Falun Gong member refused entry to Hong Kong complained last night that immigration officers used excessive force in detaining her.
'Some very strong male officers pushed me on to the ground and tied up my hands and feet,' said Shi Wai, a Chinese citizen who lives in the US. 'Then they used very thick clothes to gag me, not allowing me to talk.'
Officials cited security reasons in refusing her entry, she said.
Ms Shi said she was then carried to a plane back to America by about 30 immigration officers.
Jan Chuo Chun-tay, 40, one of dozens of Taiwanese detained, said from the airport last night that the immigration officers refused the group's entry after checking their flight number. 'All went well at first, but then they checked our flight number and told us we couldn't come in.'
Ms Chuo said she was detained with about 30 others, some from Taiwan and some from Australia. 'The officers were very polite, but they kept asking us strange questions. The officers asked me where I lived, what's my job and how many people came with me.'
Immigration officers later told her she would be deported to Taiwan, Ms Chuo said.
Another Taiwanese Falun Gong member, Huang Chun-mei, said from the airport: 'They're holding me and won't let me talk . . . They've searched all my luggage.'
