TAIPEI has still not decided whether to allow the founder of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, Li Hongzhi, to visit the island, because of the risk of angering Beijing.

Taiwan Falun Gong Research Centre Deputy Secretary-General Huang Chun-mei yesterday said the centre had invited Mr Li, whose group was outlawed by Beijing, to attend a conference scheduled for December 23-24. She said, however, that until yesterday they had not heard from the Taiwan government as to whether it would allow entry to Mr Li, a move which could infuriate Beijing.

An official of the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council, which formulates and regulates the island's mainland policy, said all mainland visitors' entry applications were discussed with the Ministry of the Interior. ``The purpose of and the identity of the visitor would both be vital to the consideration of the administration,'' said the official.

The organiser of the Falun Gong seminar, Professor Chang Ching-hsi, said the Falun Gong centre had liaised with Taiwan's government for months on Mr Li's visit without obtaining a final decision.

The government has apparently tried to play down the incident as it had told the group Falun Gong was not considered a religion because it did not meet the criteria of a religion according to its regulations, Professor Chang said.

The Sing Tao Daily, sister newspaper of the Hong Kong iMail, yesterday said Mr Li was applying as a scholar, but not as a religious leader. Professor Chang said he had heard that but could not confirm it. Government organs, including the Ministry of the Interior and the Mainland Affairs Council, were still working on it, despite the fact that authorities had granted an entry permit to Mr Li last year.

Professor Chang said Taipei last year granted the visa to Mr Li. But he had later decided to cancel a trip to the island after Falun Gong was banned in the mainland last July when the size of [group] protests shocked Central leaders.

http://hk-imail.singtao.com/inews/public/