Sect row fuels erosion of HK freedoms

By Alan Low

HONG KONG (AFP): Hong Kong's freedoms may be slowly ebbing away as Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa walks a wobbly tightrope under pressure to toe Beijing's line over the Falungong spiritual movement, analysts warned Friday.

Tung finally broke his silence on the Falungong on Thursday and immediately aroused controversy as he echoed Beijing's denunciation of the movement calling it in Chinese "an evil sect."

He pledged that although the group is legal in Hong Kong its activities would be closely monitored to ensure it did not stir up trouble either here or on the mainland.

And he said proposed laws under which the government can take action against acts of treason and subversion would be reviewed -- prompting fears that other groups could be caught up in the maelstrom.

Tung's remarks were a continuation of his policy of "toeing the Beijing line ... especially as he nears re-election" for an expected second term in office, said professor of Political Science at City University, Joseph Cheng.

Tung -- a former chairman of his family's Orient shipping company which was bailed out when it ran into financial difficulties amid speculation that some of the funds came from Beijing -- was handpicked by the mainland's communist leaders to run Hong Kong for five years after its 1997 return to Chinese rule.

Beijing is reportedly keen to see Tung reelected for a second five-year term in 2002.

But Cheng said Tung is also acutely aware that the world is watching the Hong Kong government closely, amid fears the freedoms guaranteed for 50 years under the "one country, two systems" political framework under which the territory is run are already being eroded.

Beijing, troubled by the Falungong's ability to mobilize thousands of people at the drop of a hat, banned the movement as an "evil cult" in July 1999 and has reportedly been turning up the pressure for the group to be outlawed here too.

Cheng expressed fears that over time, Beijing would become less and less sensitive to the importance of Hong Kong's need to retain its autonomy.

"Beijing has been very sensitive to one country, two systems and has been very sensitive in respecting autonomy in Hong Kong since the handover," he said.

But "I have a concern that as time passes and as Beijing becomes more relaxed about the maintenance of peace and order in Hong Kong that sensitivity will be eroded," said Cheng.

Twelve Christian groups on Thursday issued a joint statement urging the government to respect people's rights to assembly and religion, expressing fears that a harsh clampdown on the Falungong could target them too.

But Lau Siu-kai, director at the Hong Kong Institute of Asia Pacific Studies, took a more cautious approach, insisting the Falungong was a special case.

"It is difficult to draw any generalizations by looking at the Falungong situation," the professor said.

"So long as religious groups, such as Catholics and Protestants, do not engage in political activities against Beijing and Beijing does not feel the survival of the regime is in danger because of their actions" then they have nothing to fear, said Lau.

However, if groups on the mainland become politicized, and had branches in Hong Kong which were also operating against China "then Beijing will take action," he warned.

Falungong members, who follow exiled guru Li Hongzhi, insist they have no political agenda and say members are taught how to attain high moral standards and physical well-being through meditation.

The Chinese language Sing Pao Daily said even if Hong Kong was to crackdown on the sect, it should not be seen as a threat to freedom of religion here.

The pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po Chinese daily said Tung's remarks were intended to protect the interests of Hong Kong and prevent a re-occurrence of the Tiananmen Square incident, in which five people, who Beijing alleged were Falungong practitioners, set themselves alight.

But Tung was roundly criticized for echoing Beijing's description of the group as an "evil sect".

The Apple Daily said the chief executive's remarks were "dangerous and unreasonable" and pondered if they were a prelude to a suppression of religious freedoms.

While the English-language South China Morning Post said his comments were a stern message to Falungong practitioners not try the government's patience, although there was no hint of any direct or immediate action.