The Roaring Hong Kong

Peaceful Sit-In Outside The Central Government Office

On April 28, 1994, more than one thousand people, from over twenty countries throughout the world, gathered in front of the Hong Kong Governor's Office and held a peaceful sit-in session. Apart from the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations, groups from different fields supported the event enthusiastically. They included service groups, such as the Lion's Club and other major religious organizations, such as the Korean Buddhist Association.

In the beginning, the crowd shouted slogans, waved banners and sang the hymn, "Hallelujah". Reporters from all the major newspapers, TV and radio stations in Hong Kong came to cover the news. First, they interviewed the spokesperson, Shiu-San Li, of the Hong Kong branch of The International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations. Halfway through the interview, the Supreme Master Ching Hai arrived at the scene and, immediately, became the focus of attention. The Master was interviewed by the reporters from Saigon Radio from San Jose California, USA and the Chinese section of the Radio France International. Even the internationally renowned British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) made a last minute overseas telephone interview, from the United Kingdom, and immediately broadcasted it to all the Asian countries (including Au Lac). It could be heard by a vast audience, millions of people. Many radio and TV stations in Hong Kong broadcasted live, on the spot. The peaceful sit-in session began at 2:30 p.m. As it went on quietly and amicably, Supreme Master Ching Hai joined in and meditated with the crowd. At the end of the session, She sang a holy hymn with the crowd and began to cry; the crowd also shed tears. The reporters asked some of the people why they were crying; they replied that it was because they could feel the pain and suffering the refugees were going through.

During the event, Mr. Cheng-Jiah Lin, a Legislator from Formosa, also made an overseas telephone call to the scene to find out what was happening. A spokesperson for the news media answered all his questions. During their conversation, Legislator Lin promised that he would submit a recommendation to the Formosa Government to help the Au Lac refugees. The event ended successfully at 5:00 p.m.

Refugees, Be brave! Don't die!

On the 29th of April, we went to the Whitehead detention camp. TV and radio reporters, plus a famous Au Lac movie star accompanied us. When we arrived, many of the Hong Kong journalists and TV crews were already present, with their cameras at work. The supporters received permission from the Hong Kong police to hold the peaceful sit-in, but were denied entry into the camps by the camp authorities, so they just silently found a place to meditate and displayed various banners denouncing forced repatriation and the use of violent force on the refugees. Everyone started singing Hallelujah glorifying God. All the disciples present from all over the world seemed to have become one with the suffering refugees, they were singing with tears rolling down their cheeks even though many never had the experience of crossing the dangerous sea just to be locked up in prison.

Master came a short while after they started meditating. They encouraged us to go there to give support to those people. Even in detainment without knowing their future, they still showed concern for others under similar circumstances.

Representatives From All Countries Presenting Protest Letters

In the afternoon, about one hundred representatives from over twenty countries accompanied Supreme Master Ching Hai to the Government Office. They submitted thousands of signed letters from organizations and individuals all over the world, protesting against the Hong Kong Government's violent forced repatriation of the Au Lac refugees. Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her group walked more than ten minutes up to the office, but the Governor didn't show up. He had only dispatched an officer to accept and convey the letters. Then, Supreme Master Ching Hai and everybody proceeded straight to the Man Yee refugee camp, to join the group of the peaceful sit-in.

They stood outside and raised banners as well as posters boards with names of country on them to show where the people came from: Formosa, USA, France, Indonesia, Japan, Hong kong, Korea, Costa Rica, Germany, Singapore etc. We again shouted slogans asking the refugees to have courage to fight and keep their precious lives. All the cameras and reporters immediately surrounded Her. After the interview, She sat down to meditate and sing together with the people, in front of the barbed wire fence.

They then started shouting slogans to encouraging the boat people to continue with their struggle. When we came to the slogans "Refugees, we love you" and "Be courageous, don't die!", Master bent Her head down and burst into tears. Behind Her the disciples were also crying loudly. At that moment, the suffering of the refugees had become the pain of the whole world through the cry of these disciples all over the world.

The boat people started becoming visible from behind the fence. Master used the loud speaker and encouraged them to be patient and endure the hardships while the people outside were fighting for their future. She asked them not to sacrifice their lives in vain. The boat people called out to thank Master for Her concern for them. The Au Lac news people also encouraged them to continue the fight as well as not to waste their precious lives. A Hong Kong reporter who came to interview Master also bursted into tears, and a few policemen had tears trickling down their cheeks. The refugees kept thanking Master and informed us that many of them had been moved to the Man Yee camp and are going through a hunger strike. Across a double barbed wire fence, about four persons high, they waved to the refugees, responding to each other. When Ms. Mai Han of Radio Saigon, California introduced Master, the refugees were cheering and applauding to welcome Her. Master then comforted them, and encouraged them to continue with their struggle, but asked them to reconsider and preserve their precious bodies that God had given them.

There Must Be Sunny Days After The Rain. Justice Would Eventually Replace Violence

This was the group of people who had been violently forced to move from the Whitehead center to prepare them for repatriation. Presently, they were filled with bitterness and anger; there was news that many planned to commit suicide on April 30th. This news made Master very anxious, and She asked the fellow practitioners as well as the press to come to console them.

After speaking to the refugees, Master asked a comedian and movie star named La Thoai Tan to come to the microphone. He is a famous comedian, also a journalist and an artist. For over 20 years we have admired and laughed with him throughout many humorous acts and hysterical plays, but today his voice was filled with tears. He advised the boat people to continue fighting but to preserve their lives, because behind them were thousands of fellow practitioners from all over the world ready to support them.

The refugees thanked Master, fellow disciples all over the world as well as the press for coming here in the rain to support their struggle. They also said 450 people would continue with the hunger strike which had started 75 days ago, protesting the violence and the forced repatriation policy by the Hong Kong Government. However they would continue to fight and not commit suicide because they now believed "after the rain, comes the sun". Upon hearing this outside the barbed wire fence, Master and everyone sighed with relief. The refugees had realized that they were not alone, and they finally felt the love in place of the violence, their hearts had melted with love instead of boiling in anger and bitterness.

At the end, Master Ching Hai's disciple read out a fax saying 26 Formosa legislators agreed to support Master in Her efforts to resettle the refugees, and promised they would try to find ways to resolve the problem. On the other side, in USA, a few congressmen intended to bring the issue of violence and forced repatriation to the House of Congress.

Sign Your Name To Save Lives

On 30th April 1994, to support the Hong Kong "Hibiscus Concern Group" on aiding the Au Lac refugees, a Signature campaigns was held. About a thousand people from more than twenty countries travelled to Hong Kong and Kowloon to support these activities. They went to the most crowded places, such as Tsimshatsui Ferry Pier, Fook Tuck Garden, central district Ferry Pier, Causeway Bay Park, Victoria Peak and various mass transit terminals, etc. - a total of over twenty base points - resulting in a massive and mendous signature campaign.

Most of the activists were assembled at the Tsimshatsui Ferry Pier, and thereafter, split up and proceeded to various places. The Supreme Master arrived to give instructions, observe the activity, and also to give Her support. At the same time, She answered the questions from many news reporters and journalists (including journalists from the Hong Kong and Taiwan Chinese News, ONE magazine, Sing Pao News... etc). The majority of the Hong Kongers and tourists were very kind and supportive. When they saw the posters and banners - FREE COUNTRIES PLEASE ACCEPT REFUGEES, SIGN YOUR NAME TO SAVE LIVES -, they automatically came forward and signed their names. Therefore, the signature campaign was very swift, effective and excellent. In half a day, there were already more than 40,000 signatures. Subsequently, in less than 2 days, a record of 100,000 signatures were collected.

On the 1st and 2nd of May 1994, representatives from more than twenty countries continued to rally and appeal to the people to show their love for the lives of the refugees. On the 2nd of May, the activists visited a few reputable universities such as Hong Kong University, Sa-tian Chinese University, and technical colleges. The responses from the schools and universities were very encouraging and warm. Students from the People's News Society requested to visit us and report on our activities. Although the activists were working on a tight schedule, nearly a thousand people would have to leave H.K. for their own countries within a few days, the accelerated actions showed results. Before noon of the 2nd May 1994, more than 100,000 signatures were obtained. This tremendous response fully reflected and showed the love and support of the Hong Kongers for the refugee. Since the maintenance of the refugees was from the taxes collected from the Hong Kong people, the Government should, therefore, respect the opinion and wishes of the people and not be stubbornly forcing the refugees to ruin their lives.

The Hibiscus Concern Group Submitted To The Hong Kong Government & UNHCR 100,000 Signatures

We submitted all the signatures to the "Hibiscus Concern Group", who, in turn, swiftly these, together with the previous signatures, a total of 110,000, to the Hong Kong Governor's Office and UNHCR. The Hong Kong Governor's Office sent an officer to receive the signatures. UNHCR, originally, did not wish to receive the signatures, but finally and reluctantly assigned a representative to do so. This news was widely reported in the various major newspapers.

The Great World-Wide Signature Campaign. Don't Leave Hong Kong In Eternal Regret

Not only Hong Kong, but other countries also initiated the "Signature Campaign To Save the world's Au Lac Refugees". In Formosa, a record of more than a million signatures were obtained in less than a week. It is, indeed, a great relief and very pleasant to know that most people are still very compassionate, loving and sympathetic. The signatories told the Hong Kong Government not to pretend to be dumb and deaf by not finding ways to improve the situation, hence, leaving of a bad name and also the refugees in despair.