HONG KONG (AP)--Amid media reports that Hong Kong might take legal action against the spiritual sect Falun Gong, a top official said Friday that the government should study how other countries deal with cults, instead of just focusing on the situation here.
But Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang reiterated that for now, the government plans no changes in handling Falun Gong, which is outlawed and subject to an often-violent crackdown in mainland China but remains legal in Hong Kong.
"Regarding the Falun Gong issue, there have been many storms," Tsang told members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council.
Tsang declined to answer directly when lawmakers asked him whether Hong Kong will change its laws to ban "evil cults," the terminology Beijing uses to describe Falun Gong.
Following numerous protests by Falun Gong here against Beijing's campaign of suppression on the mainland, Hong Kong has been under increasing pressure to act against the meditation sect.
Tsang, who is the No. 2 official here, said that Hong Kong should look at how mainland China dealt with Falun Gong, where some members have performed "radical acts," as well as how other countries, such as the U.S., Japan and France, handled cults.
The tabloid newspaper Hong Kong iMail has reported Hong Kong officials are studying a French strategy for dealing with cults that cause societal problems by outlawing them if they have been troublesome elsewhere.
Tsang's mention of "radical acts" referred to some Falun Gong members reportedly setting themselves ablaze in Beijing's Tiananmen Square - an incident that Falun Gong says is being used by Beijing to stir up sentiments against the group. Falun Gong says that the people who lit themselves on fire couldn't have been true believers.
"As a responsible government, I think we should study all the methods other countries use in dealing with evil cults," Tsang said.
His remarks drew fire from Hong Kong Falun Gong spokeswoman Hui Yee-han, who said any government attempt to "target" her group was "ridiculous."
"I see absolutely no point in implementing legislation against our group," Hui said. "We never committed any crimes. If Donald Tsang wants to be responsible for Hong Kong, he should approach us and better communicate with us."
She criticized the government for refusing to meet with her fellow members, saying that a responsible government should communicate with those it considered problematic in order to find a solution.