HONG KONG, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's chief executive Tung Chee-hwa said on Thursday the Falun Gong spiritual movement would not be allowed to exploit the territory's freedom to undermine order and stability in Hong Kong or mainland China.
Tung was breaking a long silence on the meditation group, which has stepped up its protest campaign in Hong Kong against a crackdown by the communist leadership in Beijing.
"The Hong Kong government will closely monitor Falun Gong activities in Hong Kong," Tung told legislators.
"(It) 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.
Beijing outlawed Falun Gong in 1999 and called the group an "evil cult" but it is still legal in Hong Kong, which retains a large degree of autonomy since its handover by Britain in 1997.
Tung said he was "shocked and saddened" by Falun Gong members who set themselves on fire on Beijing's Tiananmen Square last month and said the movement had shown signs of being a cult.
"More or less, it has some characteristics of an evil cult," he said in Chinese.
But Falun Gong followers in Hong Kong said the Tiananmen incidents were staged by Chinese authorities to put the movement in a bad light, and they regretted Tung's remarks.
"By saying this, he will stir up irrational opposition sentiment in Hong Kong against Falun Gong," said Falun Gong spokesman Kan Hung-cheung. "This is not good for stability. Therefore Mr Tung's remarks are irresponsible and dangerous.
"Pressure from senior Chinese leaders has caused the Hong Kong government to take a high-profile approach. This is not good for Hong Kong either," Kan said. "We have carried out our activities peacefully and legally."
"TOEING THE BEIJING LINE"
Martin Lee, leader of the popular Democratic Party, said Tung had failed to uphold independence for the territory.
"I think what the Chief Executive has shown is that he is exactly toeing the Beijing line on the Falun Gong people. He actually described them as an 'evil sect', which of course is the line from Beijing," Lee said.
The movement, which promotes a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, meditation and traditional Chinese breathing 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 any political interests.
Beijing has stepped up its campaign against the group and has warned in recent weeks that it would not allow Falun Gong to turn Hong Kong into an anti-China base.
The group drew Beijing's ire last month when it held a two-day conference in the territory where members denounced China's crackdown.
Pro-Beijing figures in Hong Kong have been quick to parrot China's criticism, raising fears the Hong Kong government might cave in and curb the group, in what would be seen as a compromise of Hong Kong's autonomy.
Tung, however, made clear he would not act hastily, saying: "We have to see whether Falun Gong poses a risk to Hong Kong order."
He said he was in no hurry to enact a sedition law, required by Hong Kong's post-colonial constitution to prohibit treason, secession, sedition, subversion against Beijing.
"Our thinking has been to study it (a sedition law), and at an appropriate time, conduct wide consultation and after that, propose legislation. Our plan has not changed," Tung said.
Falun Gong vowed to be more cautious.
"We will be more cautious and more alert, to prevent people from having anything to hold against us," Kan said.
08:36 02-08-01
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