BBC Monitoring: Hong Kong Legislator Worried by Rights Implication of Falun Gong Issue

Feb 6, 2001 -- (BBC Monitoring) Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong audio web site on 6 February.

The escalating controversy about the Falun Gong has prompted legislators to put the issue on the meeting agenda. Legco [Legislative Council]'s security panel will discuss the matter in view of Beijing's recent criticism of the Falun Gong in Hong Kong. Panel member Emily Lau told Rebecca Tsang that the government has to clearly explain what is its position on the movement - which is banned on the mainland.

[Lau] This is an issue now of intense public interest, mainly because the Chinese government and the SAR [Special Administrative Region] government has been mentioning them every day, targeting them every day, and I think people are getting quite worried. It seems that if people make high profile, organized criticisms of the Chinese government, then they are incurring not only Beijing but the Hong Kong government's wrath, and now people are very worried that in future, maybe the freedom of expression would be seriously limited. So I think the administration should come out and explain clearly that Hong Kong people - whether they are members of Falun Gong or not - provided that they abide by Hong Kong laws, they should have freedom to express their views, to practice Falun Gong or whatever.

[Tsang] An executive councillor says there is a need to speed up the work on laws against treason and subversion in view of the recent developments. Is there such an urgent need, from your point of view?

[Lau] I disagree with her at all. In fact, many of us do not agree with the offenses contained in article 23 of the Basic Law. I am sure the administration understands this is a hugely explosive subject, and that is why they have been studying it for so long - both the Department of Justice and the Security Bureau have been studying it, and they have been consulting Beijing - and we actually think that they should consult the Hong Kong people first. This is going to be a very, very difficult exercise; and I do not see any reason whatsoever for pushing ahead with it with indecent haste.