Sedition law urged to tackle Falun Gong Sedition law urged to tackle Falun Gong
Executive Councillor Nellie Fong Wong Kut-man has urged the Government to actively consider enacting a subversion law to regulate the activities of the Falun Gong in the SAR.
Mrs Fong, a close adviser to Beijing in the run-up to the handover, said that in the past there had been no urgent need to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law, which covers subversion and sedition, but the Falun Gong controversy had changed that.
'We didn't actively legislate the article as there was no urgent social need,' she said last night. 'This time, regarding the case of Falun Gong, we shall have to actively consider enacting Article 23.'
She accused the sect of embarrassing the SAR Government because it had been branded an 'evil cult' and banned by the mainland authorities but continues to be active in Hong Kong.
'I feel that the existence of Falun Gong in Hong Kong makes us very embarrassed. Our country says it is illegal, but they are registered in Hong Kong. It is not helpful to relations with our neighbours. It makes it worse.
'The SAR has to think of ways to deal with it. I hope both sides will develop a better mutual understanding. Falun Gong's activities are very open and the impact is very great. There is a need for an adjustment,' she said on Cable TV.