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)
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Source: Voice of America
.