Pro-Beijing businessmen and politicians have called for the Falun Gong, outlawed on the mainland as an evil cult, to lose its status as a registered society in Hong Kong. Quoted in the pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao newspaper yesterday, they said the sect should be deregistered, which would make it an unlawful society under the Societies Ordinance. This would ban it in Hong Kong and members would face heavy fines and possible imprisonment if they organised public activities. The paper said the sect was a political society connected to overseas organisations - characteristics which would disqualify its original registration as a non-political entity under the ordinance. The sect has been registered as the Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa under the law since 1996. On Tuesday, Beijing warned that any attempt to turn Hong Kong into a Falun Gong base for subversion against China would not be tolerated. Human rights activists yesterday warned it was an attempt by Beijing to pressure the Hong Kong Government to take action against the sect, which has enjoyed free assembly in the SAR. The sect's spokesman Kan Hung-cheung said de-registration would spell the end of Hong Kong's legal system and 'one country, two systems', not just the spiritual group. He said his SAR branch was independent of Falun Gong offices overseas and those on the mainland. The Security Bureau last night said any organisation must abide by Hong Kong laws. Under the ordinance, the Secretary for Security may ban a society or cancel its registration to protect national security, public safety and keep order if the society is a political body connected with a political organisation from Taiwan or overseas. An office-bearer of an unlawful society is liable to a fine of $100,000 and three years' jail, while a society member may be fined $20,000 and jailed for 12 months on first conviction. Ta Kung Pao quoted unanimous opinions on deregistering the Falun Gong. Those quoted included Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Standing Committee member Xu Simin, the head of the Fujian Traders' Association Wong Kong-hon and National People's Congress' deputy Tso Wung-wai. Human Rights Monitor director Law Yuk-kai said those quoted by Ta Kung Pao did not understand the laws of Hong Kong. Beijing Liaison Office deputy director Zheng Guoxiong said his staff were performing their duty in warning against the dangers of the Falun Gong. Outgoing Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang said the Falun Gong could continue holding activities in the SAR only if it abided by the law.
