HONG KONG (AP)--Hong Kong's political leader came under fire Thursday for criticizing members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement who planned to protest during a visit by China's president.
Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa stirred the latest controversy over Falun Gong activities here with a statement accusing group leaders of trying to harm the relationship between Hong Kong and China. He contends they are planning to disrupt a conference of top political and business leaders here on May 8-10.
Critics said Tung had threatened Hong Kong's freedoms by attacking Falun Gong's plans to protest during a visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
Tung didn't indicate if he would take any actions against Falun Gong, but said the government "will not allow them to abuse Hong Kong's freedoms and tolerance or to affect public peace and order."
In what may have been Tung's strongest warning yet to the sect banned in mainland China as an evil cult, he said Falun Gong's plans to demonstrate during Jiang's visit were "unacceptable to the community."
Falun Gong adherents said they intend no disruptions through the protest, and pro-democracy politicians and human rights activists were outraged at Tung's statement, issued late Wednesday.
"Their protest is 100% legal," said opposition lawmaker Cyd Ho. "Why should he be so upset? Is it just because Beijing has described Falun Gong as a subversive group? That is a very horrifying statement."
Dignitaries attending the conference sponsored by Fortune magazine will also include former President Clinton.
Falun Gong says it will protest Beijing's often-violent suppression of its activities on the mainland - which the sect believes is occurring under direct orders from Jiang.
Falun Gong remains legal in Hong Kong, where citizens continue to enjoy Western-style freedoms of speech and religion that are holdovers from British colonial days.
Local Falun Gong follower Sophie Xiao said Tung's remarks were unbalanced and wrong.
"He forgot one thing," Xiao said. "There's persecution in China. We can't just blind our eyes."