May 21, 2001

Human rights activists have denounced suggestions by the Hong Kong government that it might enact laws to deal with [term omitted], which they said appeared to be a prelude towards banning the Falun Gong, the group outlawed and persecuted in China.

Critics said the revelation on Friday by Donald Tsang, the new head of the civil service, that the government was studying laws used by other countries in handling [term omitted] would be a serious blow to the autonomy of the territory, where freedom of association and religion are protected by law. Falun Gong is believed to have fewer than 500 followers among the territory's 7m people.

"This government seems to care more about restricting freedoms than protecting them. There is no need for such a law other than to please Beijing," said Law Yuk-kai, the head of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor.