HONG KONG (Reuters) - Christian and human rights activists in Hong Kong rallied behind the controversial Falun Gong spiritual movement on Friday by protesting against the government for stepping up pressure on the group.
Holding banners, about 20 demonstrators lined up outside the office of Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa and slammed the administration for its recent comments against Falun Gong, which is legal in the territory but banned in mainland China.
Their actions followed remarks by Tung last week in which he borrowed Beijing's line that the group had some characteristics of "an evil cult". Tung said the government would be keeping a close watch on the situation.
Tung's comments also angered members of the democratic camp who felt Hong Kong's promised independence was under threat with the government towing Beijing's position.
A statement issued by the protesters and signed by 30 local organisations accused the government of being "unreasonable and unjust" and infringing on freedoms in the former British colony, which was guaranteed a high degree of autonomy when it reverted to Chinese control in July 1997.
LAWMAKERS TO SEEK ANSWERS FROM GOVERNMENT
Local lawmakers will press the government to clarify its stand on Falun Gong in a special meeting next Tuesday.
"How could the government label a group as an evil cult just because a couple of people outside of the territory had burnt themselves alive?" legislator Andrew Cheng, who will chair the meeting, told Reuters, referring to a recent fiery mass suicide attempt by some Falun Gong followers in Beijing.
Cheng said the government would need to give a clear definition of what constitutes an "evil cult".
Falun Gong, based loosely on Buddhism, Taoism and traditional Chinese exercises, says it has millions of followers in China. It has shocked the Communist Party with its persistence and ability to organise mass protests but denies it has political interests