HONG KONG, Feb 6, 2001 -- (Reuters) Hong Kong's Beijing-anointed leader is expected to come under strong pressure from legislators on Thursday to take a clear stand on the future of the controversial Falun Gong spiritual movement in the territory.

Banned and denounced by mainland China since 1999, Falun Gong is still legal in Hong Kong. But Beijing has repeatedly warned in recent weeks that [...]

Chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has yet to comment on the issue, which has emerged as possibly one of the biggest tests of the territory's autonomy since it was returned to China in 1997.

"We will raise a question of Falun Gong, how the government will approach the group," said a spokeswoman for the opposition Democratic Party.

Tung has three question and answer sessions with legislators a year, and analysts expect Thursday's to be among his most difficult so far.

"The public will want clarity from the Hong Kong government," said Sonny Lo, a politics professor at the Hong Kong University.

"For all his advisers and think-tanks, this would be one of the most difficult for him because of the Falun Gong."

Political analysts say Tung is in an increasingly difficult position as Beijing's attacks against Falun Gong become more strident and the group's protests against China's crackdown grow more bold.

HONG KONG WANTS ANSWERS

The escalating controversy over Falun Gong has prompted legislators to put the issue on their meeting agenda.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Emily Lau urged the administration to clearly explain its position on the movement.

"Now people are very worried that in future maybe the freedom of expression would be seriously limited," she said.

[...] The new law would prohibit treason, subversion and sedition against China's central government, but pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong fear such a provision would inhibit legitimate freedoms in the former British colony.

A growing number of political analysts say Tung's administration may feel it must move against the group to escape Beijing's ire.

However, there have been signs of divisions in his government about how to handle the group.

Last week Chief Secretary Anson Chan said Falun Gong would be allowed in Hong Kong as long as it obeyed the law but a few days later Security Secretary Regina Ip took a harder line, accusing the group of [...].

The movement says it has millions of followers in China and has shocked the Communist Party with its persistence and ability to organize mass protests.

[...]