Retired cadre Mr. Zheng Zhong, from the Hubei Province Huanggang City Foreign Trade Department, recovered from many serious illnesses after he started practicing Falun Gong. Since the persecution started in 1999, he had been steadfast in practicing Falun Gong and as a result was detained five times. He had to leave home in October 2002 to avoid further persecution. After suffering many hardships while he was away from home for a long time, Zheng Zhong died on March 9, 2004.