VLC SCMP Corner

SAR to watch how France enforces anti-cult law

Saturday, June 2, 2001

STELLA LEE

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Officials will closely observe how France its new anti-cult law and try to get an English translation, a government source said yesterday. But there was no immediate need to bring in similar legislation in Hong Kong, the source said. The French law was passed on Wednesday.

Local religious and human rights groups have expressed concern that the French law could provide the SAR Government with an to adopt similar legislation and use it against the Falun Gong group. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has described the group as "more or less having the of an evil cult". But the sect, which is banned on the mainland, says it is a group.

The source said officials saw no immediate need to follow France's example, saying it would be too and sensitive to do so. "We'll continue our study and observe how France the law," he said.

The Government would continue to act under existing laws in the handling of the group's activities in Hong Kong, he said. But there was a need to a study of anti-cult legislation because of the potential danger of developing in Hong Kong, the source said, adding that concerns had been raised after five Falun Gong members set themselves alight in Tiananmen Square in January, resulting in two deaths.

While Falun Gong followers have insisted the people involved were not group members, the source said officials still saw a potential danger. But he admitted it would be difficult to define a "cult" or control someone's thoughts. Any law should focus on whether a belief would affect a third party or damage on society.

The French law bans "the psychological abuse" of a person by "heavy or repeated pressure or techniques" to alter their judgment.