THE government has to keep a close eye on evil cults because of the damaging effect they have had on the mainland and they could spill over into Hong Kong, Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said yesterday.
Her comments were echoed by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who said his administration had to study all available options to deal with cults.
But Mr Tung insisted: ``Whatever we're doing, the issue is not about religious freedom. Religious freedom is guaranteed here. The issue is a social one.''
In what was the third straight day of a publicity offensive by senior government officials against Falun Gong, Mr Tung warned the group against disturbing the peace.
``Our stance is very clear. We're a very tolerant society, a very free society. But we won't allow anyone, including the Falun Gong, to take advantage of our tolerance to cause disturbance to our society or the mainland's society,'' he said.
Later in the day, Mrs Ip told a meeting of the Legislative Council that the government had no plans to introduce a law against cult activities.
But the security chief said that as a ``responsible'' government, it needed to monitor them closely.
``There have been a lot of evil cults emerging on the mainland, not just one, but hundreds.
``Some have deluded people; some swindled money, and some caused ruin to families. This situation has been going on for a long time.
``As Hong Kong is greatly affected by the mainland, we have to keep a close eye on any possible overspill,'' she said.
When asked whether the government had evidence of evil cults operating here, Mrs Ip cited the Church of Zion, which was active in 1996 and claimed to its followers that drinking hydrogen peroxide could cure cancer and AIDS.
Of Falun Gong, she said: ``I've read all their publications ... [founder] Li Hongzhi expels devils, catches ghosts ... it's just like reading supernatural fiction.''
Outside the Legco building, about 20 Falun Gong members handed in a petition after staging a public exercise session.
They accused the government of ``bowing to the pressure from mainland leaders and following Beijing's totalitarian order against the best interests of Hong Kong''.