Falun Gong faces close Hong Kong scrutiny

HK's chief executive warns the Falun Gong should not exploit the area's law

By Staff and wire reports

HONG KONG, China -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa says he is keeping a close eye on the controversial Falun Gong sect, which is already outlawed in China.

In his first public explanation of Hong Kong's attitude to the spiritual movement, Tung told local legislators on Thursday the sect would not be allowed to exploit Hong Kong's freedoms to undermine order and stability against the communist leadership in either the territory or China.

The Falun Gong contains "an element of a cult," Tung said. He added that he was shocked by the images of people who set themselves on fire in Beijing's Tiananmen Square last month.

Whether the people were Falung Gong members remains in dispute.

The sect has been banned in mainland China since 1999, where it is branded as an "evil cult," but it is not illegal in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and continues to have most of the autonomy it had under British rule.

Tung's speech came in the wake of Beijing intensifying its clampdown on the group after the Tiananmen Square incident.

"The Hong Kong government will closely monitor Falun Gong activities in Hong Kong and will not allow anyone to make use of Hong Kong's freedoms and tolerance to affect Hong Kong's order and stability, nor the mainland's order and stability," Tung said.

Tung also made clear that he would not act hastily, saying: "We have to see whether Falun Gong poses a risk to Hong Kong order."

Beijing has warned in recent weeks that it would not allow Falun Gong to turn Hong Kong into an anti-China base.

The Falun Gong adopt a high profile and target China's central government, Tung said.

The group has become increasingly vocal in Hong Kong and drew Beijing's anger when it held a two-day conference there in January where members denounced China's crackdown.

Pro-Beijing figures in Hong Kong have been quick to parrot China's views, raising concern that the Hong Kong government might cave in and curb the group.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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