Reuters: HK Falun Gong plans protests over China ban

HONG KONG, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement in Hong Kong will this weekend hold defiant meetings and protests against China's crackdown on their group.

Communist China has outlawed the group, which blends Taoism, Buddhism and traditional Chinese exercises, and condemns it as an [slanderous word].

But the group is legal in Hong Kong, which has retained a decree of autonomy after reverting to Chinese rule in 1997.

Falun Gong members see Hong Kong as a safe haven on the shore of China, where they can make their voices heard without fear of imprisonment. But some analysts said Beijing may see the Hong Kong protests as pure provocation.

"We don't want (Chinese President) Jiang Zemin's crackdown on Falun Gong to be implemented in Hong Kong," said Kan Hung-cheung, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa.

Kan expects up to 1,000 practitioners of Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa as it is also known, from Hong Kong and abroad to join the weekend of marches, rallies and seminars.

Asked about fears of provoking China, a government spokeswoman said groups could operate in Hong Kong as long as they abided by the law.

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CONCERN OVER DISRUPTION

Some Falun Gong members have expressed fears that their events might be disrupted.

"We are worried that those who support the crackdown launched by Jiang Zemin and others may disrupt our events," said Kan.

China's official Xinhua news agency last week singled out Kan for criticism as "a core member of the [slanderous cult]."

His association is organising a series of high-profile activities to protest against Beijing's crackdown and the imprisonment of its members.

On Saturday there will be a public exercise session, an assembly, a march, and a demonstration outside the Chinese government's Liaison Office where members will try to submit a petition.

On Sunday, Falun Gong will hold a conference at a city centre building owned by the Hong Kong government.

Political commentators said Falun Gong members in Hong Kong believe that Beijing would not dare to move against it in the territory.

"They are continuing to articulate their grievances. Outside of mainland China, the activities focus on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau," politics professor Joseph Cheng at the City University said.

"Of course the most important of them is Hong Kong, where it is easiest to reach the international media and overseas Chinese communities," he said.

He expected China to step up criticism of Hong Kong Falun Gong practitioners but said there was little Beijing could do against the group in Hong Kong.