Contact: Colleen Roche/Brenda Pérez 212-788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today received a Special Recognition Award from the Coalition for Pro-Democracy in China for his strong support for human rights in China. The Mayor proclaimed Thursday, February 26th Coalition For Pro-Democracy in China Day to honor the Coalition's efforts to bring together diverse organizations that support basic human rights for all people in mainland China.
Joining the Mayor were Laogai Research Foundation Executive Director Harry Wu, the recently released Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, dissident student leader Baiquiao Tang, former Chinese Community Benevolent Association President Dr. Men B. Lee, and the organization's incoming President P.H. Ng.
"I am honored to receive this award from an organization that I deeply admire for its great work to restore human rights in China," said Mayor Giuliani. "The Coalition for Pro-Democracy in China has been instrumental in raising international awareness of the need to end political oppression there. I commend all the organizations that have joined the Coalition in its fight to give the Chinese people on the mainland the right to speak their conscience."
Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng presented the Mayor with the Coalition's Special Recognition Award. Mr. Jingsheng, the recipient of the Coalition's Human Rights Award, spent nearly the past 18 years in prison in China for the peaceful expression of his opinions about political oppression.
Members of the Coalition for Pro-Democracy in China include Beijing Spring, the Laogai Research Foundation, the Alliance for a Democratic China, the Chinese Liberal Democratic Party, the Chinese Alliance for Democracy, Human Rights in China, Hong Kong Chinese Association of the United States, the Party for Democracy in China, the New Chinese American Association, and the Chinese Immigrants Association.