HK security chief blasts Falungong

Hong Kong's security chief has criticised the Falungong spiritual movement as heretical and encouraging superstition.

The official, Regina Ip, told legislators that the Falungong group was highly organised and devious in nature.

Her remarks aroused concern from some legislators that the government was seeking to restrict the group's freedoms to please Beijing.

Pro-China politicians want the Falungong organisation deregistered; they say it's using Hong Kong as a base from which to attack China.

The government in Hong Kong has said it's monitoring the group's behaviour closely.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service