HONG KONG. Dec 11: Hundreds of Falungong followers from around the world paraded through Hong Kong today to demand an end to Beijing’s crackdown on the spiritual movement, reports AFP.

Up to 500 sect members, on the first day of a three-day conference here, walked through the city waving banners and wearing bright yellow shirts behind plaques showing their nationalities.

Earlier they presented a letter to Beijing’s representatives here calling tor dialogue and respect for human rights.

'We want them to resolve the current crisis in China and release the practitioners that have been detained." Co-organ-iser Belinda Pang said.

'This is not a protest - that's too strong for us. We do not shout or fight, we just want to send a message."

About 300 practitioners had

earlier gathered outside Xinhua news agency. China's de facto liaison office here, where they performed exercises before setting off on their march.

Dozens of police were watching the crowd but had not intervened.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Cnee Hwa warned that authorities had "taken note" of the group's activities and emphasised their illegal status under mainland law.

"There have been reports that the Falungong have fed to loss of life and social disorders in the mainland." he said in a statement.

Conference goers and demonstrators "must comply strictly with Hong Kong laws and ... must not act in any manner which are against the Interest of China. Hong Kong or "one country, two systems’." he said.