Hong Kong iMail: No need for cult law, say 57 per cent

Thursday, June 7, 2001

cult activities in Hong Kong are not serious enough to warrant an anti-cult law, according to most respondents to a survey. More than 57 per cent of respondents felt a specific law was unnecessary.

Of the 620 people interviewed in the Democratic Party study, only 24 per cent said such laws were needed. The remainder had no opinion.

Of those questioned, 56 per cent also said they were worried their freedom of thought and religion would be restricted if the Government enacted such a law, according to survey results released yesterday.

"Our stance is that if our citizens can [show their opposition], it will not be so easy for the Chief Executive to enact an anti-cult law," said Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun.

He said the success of the "one country, two systems" principle hinged on people insisting that freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law be upheld.

Party colleague Albert Ho Chun-yan said he was concerned the Government might go ahead with an anti-cult law either as a result of pressure from Beijing or in an attempt to please mainland leaders.

"We firmly believe that nothing should be done," Mr Ho said.

Fears have been raised about the SAR adopting anti-cult legislation to crack down on Falun Gong after the passage of such a law in France last week.

More than 58 per cent of the respondents said the Government's decision to study overseas anti-cult laws was related to Beijing branding Falun Gong a [Chinese government's slanderous term omitted]. The group has been banned on the mainland.

The telephone survey was conducted by the Democrats between May 30 and last Saturday.

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