Institute condemns Hong Kong government decision to pass French-inspired legislation to limit religious freedom C (19.05.2001)

Institute condemns Hong Kong government decision to pass French-inspired legislation to limit religious freedom

WRNS (19.05.2001) HRWF International Secretariat (21.05.2001) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - The Institute on Religion and Public Policy condemns a decision of the Government of Hong Kong to pass legislation inspired by the French "anti-sect" legislation that will effectively outlaw Falun Gong and have tremendous negative effects on all religious groups in Hong Kong.

A story in the May 18, 2001 edition of Hong Kong iMail, a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper, reported that, "The iMail reported in March that the Department of Justice had submitted a report to Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee saying the government could follow the French practice and ban 'evil cults' under 'criminal' rather than 'national security' laws and that Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa believed such a bill would be an effective means to handle the sect. The most powerful provision of the law, which France is expected to endorse in June, allows the government to outlaw an organization if a 'sister group' has been labeled an evil cult by overseas countries. It also makes 'mental manipulation' an offence."

Institute President Joseph K. Grieboski remarked, "This decision exemplifies my greatest fear of the French legislation - the model it serves to other states to outlaw religious groups or belief systems as they wish. This law makes the practice of one's religion into a criminal offense and is designed to infringe upon the rights of targeted minority religions by manufacturing a means to ban disfavored minority religions from Hong Kong, just as it does in France." It has since been reported that the Security Bureau plans to submit a copy of the French bill to the Executive Council next month for consideration, and then table it in the Legislative Council for endorsement in July before the summer recess.

"To discriminate religious beliefs, or to discredit one or another form of religious practice is a form of exclusion contrary to the respect of fundamental human values and will eventually destabilize society, where a certain pluralism of thought and action should exist, as well as a
benevolent and brotherly attitude," Mr. Grieboski continued. "This will necessarily create a climate of tension, intolerance, opposition and suspect, not conductive to social peace."

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