Tung Chee-hwa last night accused Falun Gong members of attempting to undermine relations between Hong Kong and Beijing by planning a demonstration when President Jiang Zemin visits next month.
Taking the unprecedented step of issuing a statement against the group, the Chief Executive accused it of setting out to disrupt an economic forum, which will also be attended by other senior mainland officials and the heads of multinational companies.
The statement - Mr Tung's strongest attack yet on the sect - was issued after 20 local Falun Gong members petitioned the Beijing Liaison Office in Western yesterday and 200 followers held a practice session in Chater Garden, Central, to mark the second anniversary of a protest outside the Zhongnanhai leaders' compound in Beijing that triggered the crackdown on the group in 1999.
Falun Gong members described Mr Tung's statement as slanderous, while critics said it would jeopardise Hong Kong's image and was a hint of tougher action to come against the group.
Mr Tung said in his statement he had noticed in media reports that the local Falun Gong group was planning to hold a series of activities during Mr Jiang's visit. 'Clearly, such activities go beyond purely religious activities or physical exercise; they represent a deliberate move to undermine the relationship between Hong Kong and the central Government,' the statement said.
He said the activities were unacceptable as they would interfere with the smooth conduct of the economic forum, which aimed to attract investors to Hong Kong.
