9 Aug 2008

Activist tries to show Tibetan flag at Olympic venue

Security officers carry local student and activist Christina Chan from the equestrian venue.

Security officers have removed a university student who tried to display the Tibetan flag during the Olympic equestrian competition in Hong Kong.

The student, Christina Chan, displayed a placard bearing the Canadian flag and the Tibetan flag underneath during the competition in Hong Kong's suburban Sha Tin district early Saturday. When she tried to peel away the Canadian flag to reveal the Tibetan flag, four or five security officers asked her to leave but she refused. Officers carried her out of the venue about half an hour later.

Lam Woon-kwong, chief executive of the equestrian event, said Chan would be banned from future events.

Several other protesters demanding China abolish the death penalty held a banner that said "stop executions" near the venue.

"She was sort of disturbing other spectators around her, which is against the house rules," event spokesman Mark Pinkstone said.  CNN.com