THE local arm of the Falun Gong, in a dramatic about-turn, has pledged to adopt a low profile in an attempt to ease growing tension over the group's activities in the territory.
Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa convenor Kan Hung-cheung said yesterday the sect needed to gain the understanding of the public after it was branded a nuisance by Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
``We will change our strategy,'' Mr Kan said. ``The fact is we have been low-profile. It was suppression by the Central Government that brought the publicity. We will change our direction so that we would not be criticised easily.''
Separately, a pro-Beijing source told Hong Kong iMail the Central Government was keen to create a ``harmonious atmosphere'' ahead of Vice-Premier Qian Qichen's visit to Washington next month to meet members of the new Bush administration.
``International forces behind the Falun Gong have also softened their stance towards the Central Government. The Falun Gong in the SAR was told to adopt more self-restraint,'' the source said.
The source said the absence of Falun Gong members outside the Central Government Liaison Office's spring reception at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday was a ``surprise'' and attributed it to the new stance. But Mr Kan said the sect had learnt of the reception too late.
Meanwhile, the Xinhua News Agency has quoted the Dutch government as saying that a visit by its foreign minister to Beijing and Hong Kong - during which he was to meet sect members - had been postponed ``owing to the time factor''.
``We understand this and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan welcomes Dutch Foreign Minister Jozias van Aartsen's visit to China when the time is convenient for both sides,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said.
The Dutch minister cancelled his visit after Beijing urged him to scrap the scheduled meeting with Falun Gong members.
Sources close to Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa said Tuesday's statement by Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi indicated the SAR had been given leeway to deal with the local Falun Gong as it saw fit. Mr Tung will explain the SAR's stance toward the sect at a Legislative Council question-and-answer session today.
In other developments, two visiting delegates of the United Nations Human Rights Committee yesterday heard complaints that some employers had sacked staff because they were Falun Gong members.
Human Rights Commission director Ho Hei-wah said former Indian chief justice Prafulchandra Bhagwati and French delegate Christine Chanet had expressed ``concern'' and ``sympathy'' over the incidents.