Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi has been named Asia's most powerful man by Asiaweek , according to a new criterion for membership of its controversial Power 50 list - the power to communicate.
'The Information Age has introduced a new definition of power: those who can communicate - or control the message - are the ones who wield the greatest influence,' said Asiaweek editor Dorinda Elliott.
'While we may not agree with his message or his methods, it is for his power to inspire, to mobilise people and to spook Beijing that we select Li as Asia's most influential communicator. Li has tapped into a spiritual void in a China that is plunging into capitalism.'
The choice of the sect leader comes as government security officials are studying anti-cult laws overseas amid speculation that the group may be banned in the SAR.
There are just two Hong Kong men on the list: property tycoon Li Ka-shing, who occupied top spot last year but drops to 13, and media magnate Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who debuts at number 36.
Making up the top five are Keiji Tachikawa, president of telecommunications giant NTT DoCoMo, followed by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Taiwanese director Ang Lee, President Jiang Zemin, and anti-globalisation activist Vandana Shiva.
Pacific Century CyberWorks chief Richard Li Tzar-kai, ranked 14th last year, has dropped off the list.