Hong Kong warns Falun Gong

Demos marked two years since the Beijing silent protest

Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, has issued a sharp warning to the Falun Gong spiritual movement ahead of a visit to the territory by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Mr Jiang is to visit Hong Kong for a gathering of business and political leaders in mid-May - just a few days before the anniversary of the founding of Falun Gong.

In his strongest statement yet on the movement, Mr Tung said Falun Gong's activities went "against the interests" of Hong Kong and its people and were "unacceptable".

The spiritual movement is banned in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong.

Protests planned

Members of the movement have said that they plan to hold public protests during Mr Jiang's visit in order to draw attention to China's treatment of Falun Gong.

Mr Tung's warning was clear

Mr Tung cautioned that the May conference was designed to attract investment to Hong Kong and that the Falun Gong would not be allowed to abuse the territory's freedom or tolerance.

He has come under pressure from Beijing to ban the movement, but has not done so, presumably for fear of damaging Hong Kong's autonomy and international reputation as a free society.

Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 but maintains a degree of self rule.

The Chinese Government sees the Falun Gong movement - which says it has millions of adherents - as a political threat.

Followers say it is a system of traditional meditation and exercise.

Anniversary demonstrations

There were no arrests when Falun Gong members demonstrated peacefully in Hong Kong on Wednesday near the Beijing government's main office.

But at least 20 members of the movement were detained in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on the same day.

Mr Jiang was said to have been furious at the protest

The date marked exactly two years since about 10,000 members of the group held a silent protest calling for official recognition outside the compound in Beijing where many of China's top leaders live.

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Beijing says the 1999 protest is believed to have deeply angered President Jiang, and led directly to the two years of suppression that have followed.

Since then hundreds of activists have been arrested.

Falun Gong says that nearly 200 supporters have died in police custody and thousands are in labour camps.

The Chinese Government says that a few people have died in custody, but only from natural causes or suicide.