By Margaret Wong
Associated Press Writer
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001; 12:51 a.m. EST

HONG KONG –– – The Falun Gong meditation sect, outlawed and often subject to violent crackdowns in mainland China, held a global conference in Hong Kong Sunday where followers lashed out at Beijing's suppression.

"Over 100 of our great Falun members have lost their lives to spread the truth," adherent John Hu said during the meeting at an auditorium in Hong Kong City Hall. "But this won't change our beliefs and determination to practice Falun Gong."

Falun Gong is demanding the right to practice freely in communist China and an end to the crackdowns that it claims have resulted in the torture and killings of 120 followers at the hands the mainland authorities.

"There's no human rights in China because you cannot even say a word about Falun Gong in Tiananmen Square," complained Hong Kong practitioner Fiona Ching.

Beijing authorities round up and often beat Falun Gong practitioners on the mainland, but the sect remains legal in Hong Kong.

About 900 Falun Gong adherents turned out for Sunday's well-publicized gathering, which has drawn sharp criticism from pro-Beijing forces furious that the "evil cult" can attack Chinese policies while on Chinese soil.

The meeting included 700 overseas followers from 23 countries – evidence, Falun Gong said, of the movement's appeal.

Hong Kong barred 13 practitioners from entering the territory but said late Saturday it was because they failed to meet visa requirements, not because of their Falun Gong affiliation.

A drawing of the movement's founder, Li Hongzhi, seated in a Buddhist meditation pose, was the central backdrop on a stage where Falun Gong members spoke about their experiences in the group.

One man read aloud from a letter purportedly from another follower in Beijing who had been arrested and beaten in December, then later released. He was not identified for fear of retaliation.

"There are evils which should not exist in this cosmos," the letter said.

Hong Kong practitioner Hui Kwok-hong opened the conference by thanking the territory's government for letting the sect rent space in City Hall despite criticism from pro-Beijing newspapers.

"We sincerely thank the government officials for giving us their special support," Hui said – although there has been no indication that Falun Gong has been treated any differently from any other group in Hong Kong.

The English-language Sunday Morning Post editorialized that the event was good publicity for Hong Kong, showing "that freedom of religion and assembly remains intact."

Saturday was dominated by both meditation and protest.

In the morning, Falun Gong followers gathered in a park to practice their slow, rhythmic exercises to the mellow sounds of recorded Chinese music.

They later marched on the liaison office of the mainland Chinese government and placed petitions on the sidewalk addressed to Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and other authorities.

Falun Gong insists it has no political motives, but Beijing has been alarmed by the group's ability to organize huge demonstrations.

"I do not get involved in politics, but when people see a mass of people, they see it as a threat," said Sterling Campbell, a follower from New York.