From The BBC Asia/Pacific - Political PUBLICATION DATE: 05/25/2001

[Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong audio web site on 25 May]

The European Union's external affairs commissioner, Chris Patten, has sounded a warning over any possible move by the Hong Kong government against the Falun Gong. The last colonial governor said there was bound to be concern in Europe and North America over any move to ban the group. Mr Patten was speaking in Beijing in an interview with RTHK.

[T]here would be a great deal of international interest if anything was done on the Falun Gong, because there would be some concern in Europe and North America that it wasn't done for Hong Kong reasons but for reasons that went beyond Hong Kong. So inevitably, if anything was done on the Falun Gong - I don't give this as my personal impression, I've been careful to avoid getting involved in Hong Kong debates, but I state what should be blindingly obvious to everybody - if things are done about the Falun Gong, there is bound to be international concern that it's because of events and developments outside Hong Kong, not inside Hong Kong.