DATE=4/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247727
TITLE=CHINA / DISSIDENT TRAVEL (L-O)
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO DAYS AFTER CHINA REFUSED PERMISSION FOR EXILED
DISSIDENT WANG XIZHE TO ENTER THE COUNTRY, HE WAS PREVENTED
WEDNESDAY FROM BOARDING A HONG KONG-BOUND FLIGHT IN BANGKOK.
CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FROM THE VOA ASIA NEWS
CENTER IN HONG KONG, THE INCIDENT IS THE LATEST TWIST IN MR.
WANG'S QUEST TO RETURN TO HIS HOMELAND.
TEXT: EXILED CHINESE DISSIDENT WANG XIZHE WAS STOPPED FROM
BOARDING A HONG KONG-BOUND FLIGHT WEDNESDAY IN BANGKOK. THAI
AIRWAYS OFFICIALS TOLD HIM HE DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER TRANSIT
VISA TO STAY IN HONG KONG OVERNIGHT. THE AIRLINE SAYS AS ITS
STAFF TRIED TO RESCHEDULE HIS FLIGHT FOR THURSDAY, THEY RECEIVED
A TELEX SAYING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ALLOW MR. WANG
IN THE CHINESE TERRITORY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
HONG KONG OFFICIALS DENY SENDING ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE THAI
AIRLINE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR HONG KONG'S SECURITY BUREAU WOULD NOT COMMENT
SPECIFICALLY ON MR. WANG'S CASE, BUT SAYS WHEN ISSUING TRANSIT
VISAS EACH CASE IS DETERMINED ON ITS INDIVIDUAL MERITS.
MR. WANG, AN ACTIVE DISSIDENT IN CHINA FOR 25 YEARS, DENIED
REPORTS HE WAS COMING TO HONG KONG TO GET BACK INTO MAINLAND
CHINA. HE SAYS HE WANTED TO TRANSIT HONG KONG TO CONNECT WITH A
FLIGHT TO SEOUL AND THEN RETURN TO HIS HOME IN NEW YORK.
MR. WANG, AN AMERICAN- BASED MEMBER OF THE CHINA DEMOCRACY PARTY,
ARRIVED IN BANGKOK MONDAY FROM SEOUL, AFTER BEING REFUSED
PERMISSION TO RETURN TO MAINLAND CHINA. HE SAYS HE WANTED TO
VISIT TO PAY RESPECTS TO HIS LATE FATHER, DURING QING MING, THE
CHINESE GRAVE SWEEPING DAY ON MONDAY.
THE 50-YEAR OLD MR. WANG WAS ASKED TO LEAVE A BEIJING-BOUND
FLIGHT IN SEOUL AND WAS TOLD HE MUST FLY TO BANGKOK INSTEAD OF
THE CHINESE CAPITAL. HE TOLD REPORTERS IN BANGKOK IT WAS AGAINST
THE LAW FOR CHINA TO REFUSE HIM PERMISSION TO RETURN TO HIS
HOMELAND.
SOME OBSERVERS SAY MR. WANG WAS TRYING TO TEST CHINA'S POLICY OF
BARRING UNWANTED EXILES AND POLITICALLY ACTIVE FOREIGNERS FROM
ENTERING THE COUNTRY. THE EXILED DISSIDENT'S JOURNEY COMES AT A
DIPLOMATICALLY-SENSITIVE TIME -- DURING THE VISIT TO THE UNITED
STATES OF CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI.
IN 1996, MR. WANG ARRIVED IN HONG KONG AFTER SNEAKING OUT OF
CHINA TO AVOID ARREST. SINCE THEN HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN EXILE
IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/CS/FC
07-Apr-99 7:01 AM EDT (1101 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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