political opinions had also spilt over into Hong Kong. Despite the Governor's assurance that the Hong Kong Government would not interfere with activities to commemorate 4 June, a Christian pro-democracy group had been refused permission to use a stadium for a prayer meeting in that connection. Also, Hong Kong police had confronted protesters outside the offices of the New China News Agency and had demanded names and identity cards while filming the protesters. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Government had gone ahead with two unprecedented prosecutions which seriously stifled freedom of expression. 6. Reprisals had also been extended to China's overseas students. The Chinese Government intimidated and harassed them and threatened them or their families. In Japan, Chinese officials had visited campuses and had conducted individual interviews in which threats were reported to have been made. 7. The problems facing Chinese students made their need to obtain political asylum abroad more compelling. Information obtained by ILHR indicated that the Japanese Government had already refused requests for visa extensions from Chinese students and scholars who claimed a well-founded fear of persecution if they returned to China. There were reports that Japanese officials argued that some of the students concerned could not apply for refugee status because they had not done so within 60 days of their arrival in Japan, even though they had arrived with valid academic visas. ILHR therefore urged the Government of Japan to adopt measures to ensure that Chinese students were interviewed by trained immigration specialists familiar with their situation and that any of the students now in Japan who had a well-founded fear of persecution be afforded full protection in accordance with international law and practice regarding refugees and asylum-seekers. 8. Ms. HATFIELD-LYON (Minority Rights Group) said that her organization wished to raise four minority issues that it had raised in the past. 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be focused on the political and social tensions between China and Hong Kong, as well as the treatment of Chinese students abroad. The issues raised, such as freedom of expression, persecution, and asylum, suggest that the text is more concerned with human rights and political freedoms rather than economic or scientific topics.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Human rights