June 1, 2001

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The passage of an anti-xx law in France has reignited fears of a similar move in Hong Kong to curb China's banned Falun Gong spiritual movement.

Religious groups rallied together in the territory on Friday, saying a similar law would spell the end to freedoms guaranteed under Hong Kong's constitution.

While the Falun Gong is still legal in Hong Kong, top officials, including leader Tung Chee-hwa, have recently indicated that the territory may enact laws to curb the group.

Nine Christian groups are seeking a meeting with Tung and have begun collecting signatures from the public to prepare a petition to be presented to legislators at end-June, said Rose Wu of the Hong Kong Christian Institute.

"We don't want to see Hong Kong enacting such a law here. It's too dangerous. It could be abused to curb religious freedom," Wu told Reuters.

"The government is only considering it because China has banned it and Hong Kong just wants to please Beijing."

Beijing banned the Falun Gong in 1999, branding it an [Chinese government's slanderous terms omitted] .

[...]

Editorials in several Hong Kong newspapers on Friday also warned the government against imposing similar anti-xx laws.

Outlawing the Falun Gong would only hurt Hong Kong's image and reputation, the Ming Pao Daily newspaper said.

[...]