Hong Kong Deports 2 American Women

Immigration authorities here deported two American women on security grounds Sunday in advance of a global business forum this week that will draw Chinese President Jiang Zemin, former President Clinton and an undetermined number of protesters.

In addition to monitoring those expected to demonstrate against the trend toward globalized commerce, police hope to head off any direct confrontation between Jiang and members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is outlawed on the mainland but legal in Hong Kong.

Human rights activists said U.S. passport holders Li Xiaoben and Xu Zhemei were detained by immigration authorities at Hong Kong’s international airport as they tried to enter the territory Saturday. Both are said to be Falun Gong followers. Li reportedly had been refused entry to the territory twice previously and had been jailed briefly on the mainland for attempting to practice Falun Gong there.

The U.S. Consulate here declined immediate comment, but human rights activists quickly condemned the move.

“I find it strange they can identify Falun Gong supporters,” said Law Yuk-kai, director of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor. He suggested the possibility that immigration authorities were working from a blacklist, perhaps provided by Beijing.

“There’s a danger that Hong Kong could be losing its autonomy on immigration policy, and that would affect not just foreigners but Chinese as well,” Law said.

A spokeswoman for the spiritual movement, Sophie Xiao, said six other followers, including three from Australia, had been refused entry to the territory during the last week.

Sunday’s deportations came amid the largest security operation mounted here since Hong Kong was returned to China by Britain nearly four years ago. The operation reflects the government’s acute sensitivity to any possibility of violence in the streets during this week’s business conference, called the Fortune Global Forum.

The event is expected to draw an array of luminaries from the business world, including Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

In the wake of major clashes between police and demonstrators in the streets of Seattle and Quebec City, Hong Kong authorities are working to avoid similar scenes that might damage the territory’s image as one of Asia’s premier financial centers.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa shocked human rights activists with the severity of his warning last month after Falun Gong said it planned to confront Jiang with a “peaceful appeal” to end persecution of the group on the mainland.

Tung, frequently accused by critics of failing to stand up strongly enough for the democratic rights guaranteed to Hong Kong under the terms of its return to Chinese sovereignty, told group members that he would “not allow them to abuse Hong Kong freedoms” by conducting protests that might embarrass the government.