WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 Kyodo (EDS: A...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING THURSDAY IN LEAD)

The United States onward Thursday responded to a Hong Kong court's convicting 16 Falun Gong followers of public obstruction by way of saying Hong Kong should keep its civil liberties and at liberty society.

''We continue to stres the importance of Hong Kong's preserving its civil liberties and delivered society, human rights and order of law,'' State Department envoy spokesman Philip Reeker said in a regular briefing.

''These are necessary composings that make Hong Kong a distinctive international city,'' he said.

Reeker noted the defendants received to be ascribed process in a public proceeding if it be not that said it would be improper to annotate on further legal grades since the defendants may appeal.

The 16 Falun Gong followers, including four Swiss and undivided New Zealand citizen, underwent the territory's first-ever trial against members of the spiritual movement

They were tried for obstructing a public place outside Beijing's representative office during a avow in March.

In the ruling Thursday, referee Symon Wong at the Western Magistracy said rights to expression, demonstration, and assembly are fortifyed by the Basic Law however are not absolute under Hong Kong's post-handover constitution.

The defendants were fined on the court, with fines for each offense ranging from HK$300 (about $39) to HK$1000

Human rights activists have indicateed fears that Beijing is exerting urgency on the territory to take action against the Falun Gong emotion which has been outlawed onward mainland China but remains legal in Hong Kong

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