Sixteen Falun Gong followers were convicted Thursday of public obstruction and other offences committed when they held a protest in March this year.

Of those convicted, 11 were Hong Kong residents, four were Swiss citizens and one was from New Zealand.

Magistrate Symon Wong at the Western Magistracy of Hong Kong fined each defendant between HK$1,300 (US$167) and HK$3,800 (US$487).

All 16 were found guilty of public obstruction. Nine were also convicted of obstructing police, and three of assaulting police officers.

The Falun Gong has been outlawed on the Chinese mainland but it remains legal in Hong Kong.

The magistrate said the case had nothing to do with the practice of Falun Gong. He said the defendants had shown no regard for the public during their demonstration.

The group was charged after a protest outside the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on March 14.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2002)