SCMP story: Falun Gong is peaceful (Excerpt)

07/09/2002

According to an article on South China Morning Post, public attention is focused on plans for a subversion law as Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa begins his second term. The author believes the people should be reminded of the relevant articles of the Basic Law and decide whether we really need to enact such legislation.

The article was roundly criticized by the Hong Kong media, the legal community, legislators and many members of the Basic Law Consultative Committee.

Recently, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen made public statements to the effect the SAR should legislate under Article 23 as soon as possible to prohibit the activities of Falun Gong in Hong Kong.

Falun Gong [practitioners] are potential targets of Article 23. However, they have been among the most peaceful demonstrators in Hong Kong - they never use violence, they do not even raise their voices - they merely conduct breathing exercises in public.

If some Beijing leaders are misinformed about conditions in Hong Kong, it is the duty of Mr Tung to explain to them that five years of political stability has been achieved without any such legislation. Whenever I am asked by overseas journalists to give examples that "one country, two systems" is working, I always tell them that Falun Gong [practitioners] are free to demonstrate while their mainland counterparts are thrown into prison.