Press Release June 27 1997

A final call for Tibetan freedom was made in Hong Kong today. At 0830 this morning activists from the British Free Tibet Campaign and Australia Tibet Council unfurled an 8m x 6m Tibetan flag, emblazoned with the words 'FREE TIBET' in Hong Kong's Central District. The display of this flag is banned in Tibet.

"To speak out publicly about Tibet will be illegal here in less than 90 hours" said Dorji Dolma in Statue Square. "The issue of Tibet has been marginalised in Hong Kong for too long. As Britain abandons her colonial past and hands back Hong Kong, it's time for China to return Tibet to her rightful owners - the Tibetan people."

Security has been stepped up in Tibet in anticipation of trouble there related to the hand over. For nearly 50 years, Tibetan people have endured execution, persecution and torture for exercising their freedom of expression - a right highly valued in Hong Kong. One such example is 20 year old nun Ngawang Sangdrol, first arrested 7 years ago and currently serving an 18 year prison sentence for exercising her freedom of expression. Despite a United Nations ruling that her detention is unlawful, her sentence was recently increased by 9 years when she refused to stand up when an official entered the room, did not tidy her cell, and shouted "Free Tibet" when she was made to stand in the rain as punishment. Ngawang Sangdrol was last reported to be on starvation rations and it is not known whether she is still alive today.

This story, with the many others that form the tragic history of Tibet, is a warning for the future of Hong Kong. We have unfurled this flag today to remind the world of the continuing oppression of the Tibetan people. As the United States renews China's MFN trading status with a further weakened position on human rights, we are reminded of related crackdowns in Tibet following previous renewals. While China celebrates the return of Hong Kong to the motherland after 150 years of colonial rule, we urge the international community to take action to protect the genuine autonomy and human rights of the people here and we call on China to hand back Tibet.

On Monday 30th June in London, Free Tibet Campaign will hold a vigil outside the Chinese Embassy. At 5.00pm gongs will be sound to mark the passing of midnight in Hong Kong and the start of Chinese rule. George Stevenson MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, will then address the demonstration, calling on the British Government to protect the human rights and genuine autonomy of the people of Hong Kong and urge the Chinese to hand back Tibet.

Contact:

Alison Reynolds in Hong Kong (mobile) +44 (0)411 086 261 Free Tibet Campaign in London +44 (0)171 359 7573

Notes to editors:

1. Video footage available from AP TV and WTN. Stills available from Reuters and AFP.

2. Ngawang Sangdrol was first arrested at the age of 13. Her current prison term began in 1992 when she was arrested for demonstrating in Lhasa's Barkhor Square. She was re sentenced for taking part in the secret recording of nationalist songs from her prison cell, along with 13 other nuns. Her most recent re sentencing dates from June 1996. Photographs and CD copies of her secret recording are available.

3. In November 1995, the UN ruled Ngawang Sangdrol's original imprisonment unlawful because she was exercising her right of freedom of expression. They called on the Chinese to release her but there has been no response.

4. When MFN was renewed in 1994, taxes for Tibetan businesses were immediately increased. A small peaceful demonstration by traders in response was broken up by the PLA who assaulted and arrested the demonstrators.

Free Tibet Campaign

9 Islington Green, London N1 2XH, U.K.