HONG KONG, Feb. 8 (Kyodo) - By: Agnes Cheung Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa warned Falun Gong supporters Thursday against any attempt to abuse Hong Kong's freedom and tolerance to affect the order and peace of the territory or that in China.
Making his first public remarks on the Falun Gong controversy, the Hong Kong leader toed the Beijing line that the Buddhist-oriented meditation movement's activities are ''targeted at'' the central authorities and have ''escalated.''
The Hong Kong government will keep a close eye on the Falun Gong activities in the territory, Tung told local lawmakers at a question-and-answer session.
''We have to be careful and stress on ensuring Hong Kong's social tranquillity and order. (Falun Gong) somewhat has a nature of an 'evil cult,''' Tung said, adding he personally was shocked and sadden by television footage of a mother and a daughter, said to be Falun Gong followers, setting themselves ablaze in Beijing's Tiananmen Square last month.
But the Beijing-appointed territorial chief vowed to firmly abide by the law and safeguard Hong Kong's system and citizens' rights and freedoms under the Basic Law.
''On the basis of these principles, the Hong Kong government will observe closely the activities of Falun Gong in Hong Kong. At the same time, we will not allow anyone to make use of Hong Kong's freedom and tolerance to affect Hong Kong's social order and tranquillity, nor the mainland's social order and tranquillity,'' Tung said.
The Hong Kong government, however, has no plan to speed up the enactment of a subversion law in the territory, he said, adding a draft of the legislation will be introduced at an ''appropriate time'' after public consultations.
Tung's remarks follow those by representatives of the Chinese central government in Hong Kong who have warned against any attempt to turn Hong Kong into a center for Falun Gong activities or an ''anti-China'' base.
Foreign countries have also been told not to interfere in the Falun Gong issue in Hong Kong.
China has outlawed the sect as an evil cult, but Hong Kong, a Chinese special administrative region, allows the practice of Falun Gong under the ''one country, two systems'' principle.
Dutch Foreign Minister Jozias van Aartsen on Tuesday canceled his visit to China and Hong Kong set for Feb. 7-13 following Beijing's warning against foreign interference. The Netherlands' Human Rights Ambassador Renee Jones-Bos, who was to accompany him, had planned to meet with Falun Gong members in Hong Kong.
Falun Gong spokeswoman Hui Yee-han slammed Tung on Thursday for making ''irresponsible'' remarks about the group, which ''will incite mistrust and hatred among Hong Kong public'' toward the followers.
Hui disputed that those who tried to kill themselves in Tiananmen Square were movement adherents or that Falun Gong activities in Hong Kong will affect the territory's order or national security.
All the practitioners have done is to protest the brutal persecution of their members in China, she said.
Meanwhile, 12 local Christian groups expressed deep concern the Falun Gong controversy has caused a negative impact upon the practice and protection of human rights, freedom and rule of law, as well as creating tension between Hong Kong and Beijing.
They also worried that nongovernmental organizations and individuals who hold and air views critical of Beijing and the Hong Kong government will also be suppressed in future.
''We want to stress that to draft a petition, to hold a peaceful demonstration or to criticize the central government and the Chinese Communist Party is a right held by everyone in Hong Kong,'' the church groups said in a statement.
They called on officials and political figures in both Hong Kong and China to stop making remarks that divide and promote hostility within the territory's community.
AP-NY-02-08-01 0517EST
Copyright 2001 The Kyodo News Service.