FORMER governor Chris Patten, now a top European Union (EU) official, warned Hong Kong yesterday of international concern if it follows the mainland and bans the Falun Gong sect.
Mr Patten, the EU's external affairs commissioner, told RTHK Radio 3: ``There would be a great deal of international interest, if anything was done about the Falun Gong because there would be some concerns in Europe and North America.
``There are bound to be international concerns because of events and developments outside Hong Kong and not inside Hong Kong.''
Mr Patten was in Beijing for a meeting of East Asian and EU foreign ministers.
In an interview this week, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa compared the Falun Gong to the notorious Jonestown sect that committed mass suicide in Guyana in 1978. More than 900 sect members died.
His comments reinforced speculation that authorities are considering banning the group, which was outlawed on the mainland almost two years ago.
Mr Tung was comparing the Jonestown suicide to an incident in Beijing's Tiananmen Square earlier this year in which two people said by the mainland to be members of the group died after setting themselves on fire.
Earlier, officials said the government was studying overseas experiences in legislating against cults.
The Chief Executive's office said yesterday the government would monitor Falun Gong activities and would not allow the abuse of local freedoms to disturb the peace in Hong Kong or the mainland. ``Mr Patten should be aware that the HKSAR government is able to deal with issues which fall within the autonomy of Hong Kong under the Basic Law,'' it said.
Tsang Yok-sing, chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said Mr Patten's comments should have been more constructive than critical.
``Each country has its own way to deal with cults,'' Mr Tsang said.
``If Chris Patten is really concerned about Hong Kong affairs, I think it would be better for him to provide some suggestions to the SAR government on how to deal with this matter rather than to quarrel with it.''
Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming said: ``I feel it's perfectly appropriate for Chris Patten, in his capacity inside the European Commission, to make comments about Hong Kong on a Hong Kong radio station.''
Meanwhile, the Bar Association issued a statement yesterday warning that ``any proposal to legislate against `cults' will invariably threaten freedoms of conscience and religion guaranteed to residents of the HKSAR by our constitution''.
``The expressions `religion' and `religious belief' are to be broadly construed. They should not apply only to the traditional religions,'' it said.
Chinese University sociology professor Lau Siu-kai said Mr Patten's assessment was essentially correct, especially in light of the recent souring of the relationship between Washington and Beijing.
``If the Hong Kong government is going to take action against the Falun Gong, I anticipate some kind of international reaction,'' he said.
Western countries would interpret any move against the group as being the product of pressure from Beijing.