China's new rules on religious freedom are only a "slight improvement," scholars say, and only for those who belong to legally registered groups.
Anthony Lam Sui-ki, a Hong Kong-based Catholic academic, said the rules were an improvement in that they proscribe the abuse of official power in managing religious affairs, the South China Morning Post reported Monday.
The rules also offer new protection for property belonging to religious groups. But groups must still register with the government, obtain approval for venues for worship, and inform authorities of all religious appointments.
Banned groups, such as the Falun Gong group and underground Christian churches, will not be afforded protections.
Lam said he did not expect any immediate or dramatic changes in China's handling of religious groups.
The new Religious Affairs Provisions, announced Saturday, state, "No organization or individual should force a citizen to adopt or cast aside religion, nor should a citizen with or without religious beliefs face discrimination."
There is no definition of "religious beliefs," an omission that Feng Jinyuan, a researcher at the China Academy of Social Sciences, said highlights the government's caution in dealing with religion.