12 June 2001 / 01:16 AM
IF Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa is having second thoughts about hastily introducing an anti-xx law in Hong Kong, that is welcome news. If he has heard the calls to tread carefully in regard to legislating against Falun Gong, he is wise.
Mr Tung is apparently aware that anti-xx legislation could damage his own public image. While his re-election may not necessarily be put in question, popular support for a second term may decline if he rushed into banning Falun Gong.
More importantly, Hong Kong's image in the world would suffer if an anti-xx law were rushed through. That could do irreparable commercial damage to the SAR.
It is believed now that Mr Tung will take his time before he tables any anti-xx legislation. It is possible any legislation that is eventually tabled may not contain the controversial reference to ``mental manipulation''. It is also suggested that the government may not immediately use the law directly against Falun Gong.
If all of this is true, it shows Mr Tung is willing to listen to good sense. But the issue is not yet settled. Mr Tung has not ruled out legislating, and it is possible he may simply be buying time from Beijing.
The Central Government, after all, shows no sign of let-up in its pursuit of the Falun Gong. Two days ago, it announced a new law that would make it a capital offence to organise, encourage and help other people to commit suicide or injure themselves. This has been designed to prevent acts of self-immolation of the kind undertaken this year by alleged Falun Gong followers. This is a somewhat strange law that basically says that if you try to kill yourself, the state might execute you.
Mr Tung should continue to listen to reason, and move forward very carefully. If, as sources suggest he may, he waits until the new session of the Legislative Council in October before tabling anti-xx legislation, that at least allows time for consideration and consultation.
The case for an anti-xx law remains unproved, and until it can be shown that the existing criminal laws are insufficient to deal with the illegal activities of xx, the need for a new law does not exist.
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