HONG KONG, March 1 (Kyodo) - Hong Kong Secretary for Security Regina Ip on Thursday branded the Falun Gong movement a ''heretical sect'' and said there is nothing wrong with the territory's government closely monitoring its activities.
The security chief's remarks aroused immediate concern among pro-democracy legislators of possible censorship of the views of organizations and individuals.
Ip, who is in charge of public order in Hong Kong, told a panel of the Legislative Council that many teachings of the Falun Gong movement include traditional Chinese beliefs and encourage people to be superstitious.
She said the movement's followers are told there is no use seeking medical treatment for sicknesses because if they become ill it is due to sins they committed in a previous life.
The Buddhist-oriented movement, which has been outlawed and condemned as an ''evil cult'' in mainland China, is still allowed to practice in Hong Kong as long as members abide by the laws under the ''one country, two systems'' principle.
But many followers fear the government here will yield to pressure from Beijing and ban the group.
Last month, Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa toed the Beijing line by saying Falun Gong has ''more or less the characteristics of an evil cult'' and that the territory's government will closely monitor its activities.
On Thursday, pro-democracy legislators expressed concern that the government may start exercising political censorship over the teachings and thinking of groups in Hong Kong, which in turn will undermine people's freedom of expression and beliefs.
Albert Ho, a lawmaker and member of the Democratic Party, said the security chief should confine her duties to maintaining public order and that it is not her job to vet the teachings of organizations.
Copyright 2001 The Kyodo News Service