HONG KONG, July 18 (Reuters) - Organisers kicked the Falun Gong spiritual group out of a Hong Kong book fair on Wednesday, saying it had failed to show up and left a large booth empty.
A faction of the Falun Gong in Hong Kong rented the costly area for the six-day fair, but left it vacant and unattended, saying it was providing a quiet spot for visitors to contemplate.
The group had kept the media on tenterhooks for days with promises its exhibit would be a wonderful surprise.
But the organising Trade Development Council was not amused when it found the prominent area empty at the fair's opening on Wednesday.
"People pay to see exhibits but if they see an empty space, what would they think?," said TDC spokesman William Cheung.
"According to regulations, exhibitors have to put up an exhibition, failing which it would be a breach of contract."
The Falun Gong faction, which split from the main movement in Hong Kong last year, was not immediately available for comment.
Earlier, it told Reuters by telephone it was providing an oasis in a noisy place.
"It's to tell people that there is a need for silence, for space," said member Peng Shi.
"Without distractions, people can ponder about Falun Gong," he said, adding believers would be able to see wondrous things in the empty space if they "opened their hearts."
Falun Gong was banned in China as an "evil cult" two years ago but remains legal in Hong Kong, which retains a large degree of autonomy since returing to China in 1997.
The Hong Kong government this year echoed Beijing in calling the group an "evil cult" but said it has no plans to legislate against the meditation movement at this time.
Cheung said the booth, leased to the splinter faction for HK$180,000 (US$23,100), would be converted to a rest area. The organisers said they reserved the right to keep the money.
The main group has distanced itself from the faction, led by Hong Kong resident Belinda Pang. Pang's group carried out what were perceived as publicity stunts last year, including apparent suicide attempts from window ledges and a hunger strike.
Fair visitors had mixed reactions to the latest stunt.
"An open society must accept this, maybe this is how they choose to express themselves," said an elderly man who identified himself only as Mr Chow.
A teenage student disagreed.
"This is a book fair and people come here to look for books," she said.
Insurance agent Keith Ho was unmoved by any spiritual vibes when reporters lured him into the empty space, but he chose to give the group the benefit of the doubt.
"I feel nothing and I don't know what this means," he said. "It may be because they could not print their books in time."
07:54 07-18-01
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