Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

February 21, 2001 HONG KONG -- The top U.S. official in Hong Kong has come under attack from China for a speech he made calling on the international community to renew its scrutiny of Hong Kong's freedoms amid growing concern over Beijing's treatment of the Falun Dafa movement.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Hong Kong on Tuesday used its strongest language yet on the issue, calling remarks made by Michael Klosson, the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, "totally inappropriate" and "irresponsible."

The ministry said it was "widely acknowledged" that Beijing hadn't interfered in Hong Kong's autonomy and that "Hong Kong's ... affairs are the internal matter of China."

The harsh response followed a speech last Thursday by Mr. Klosson to the Asia Society in Texas in which he raised concern about the future of Hong Kong's freedoms. Although his speech was largely positive about China's handling of Hong Kong since it took control in 1997, he said the international community should give "continued attention" to the city, citing Beijing's barrage of verbal attacks on Falun Dafa as a possible threat to the city's autonomy. Mr. Klosson also cited attacks on press freedom, Beijing's warnings to Hong Kong businesses not to trade with Taiwanese businesses favoring the island's independence, and the abrupt resignation of Anson Chan, the head of the city's civil service.

Observers say Beijing's upbraiding of Mr. Klosson is the latest sign of its sensitivity to allegations that it has been overzealous in efforts to have the meditation group declared illegal in Hong Kong. The movement, which practices [...] exercises and meditation, has been the subject of a massive crackdown in China that practitioners say has resulted in more than 100 deaths. However, it remains legal in Hong Kong, where the group's ability to practice freely and criticize the actions of the government in Beijing is widely viewed as a litmus test of the city's continued autonomy.

Just three weeks ago, China rebuked the Dutch government for canceling a high-level mission to Hong Kong and the mainland following Beijing's refusal to let officials of the European nation meet Falun Dafa practitioners in Hong Kong.

Law Yuk-kai, director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, a coalition of social activists and lawyers, said he believed Mr. Klosson's remarks about Falun Dafa had triggered the reprimand. He said the open conflict between Beijing and Hong Kong on the issue made it especially sensitive.

After weeks of pressure on the Hong Kong authorities to control the group's actions in the city, Beijing last week appeared to have eased its campaign following a high-profile meeting of two pro-Beijing politicians with senior members of the group. On Monday, however, Beijing rekindled the attacks. Ye Xiaowen, the head of the State Administration's Religious Affairs Office in Beijing, appeared at a seminar in Hong Kong and called Falun Dafa [Chinese government's slanderous words].

Michael DeGolyer, an associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University's department of government and international studies, said Mr. Klosson's comments, which weren't couched in the usual diplomatic tones, touched a raw nerve. He said China is especially prickly about the remarks because they were delivered in the home state of U.S. President George W. Bush at a time when relations between the two national powers are strained.

China wants "to send a message that these are sensitive times," he said. Dr. DeGolyer said that Beijing might also be hoping to get Mr. Klosson replaced by someone who put less stress on Hong Kong freedoms and more emphasis on business.

The U.S. consulate in Hong Kong said Tuesday that it had no comment on the matter.