The Hong Kong government declined to confirm or deny the report, citing its policy of not commenting on individual cases. The report quoted sources as saying ``it would be futile for Mr. Li to enter Hong Kong as he would be treated like any other mainland dissident''.

Li, a Chinese-American living in New York, visits Hong Kong frequently, but has only given three public addresses here in the mid-'90s, said Sophie Xiao, a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong chapter, which has 1,000 members. ``It doesn't matter (if they bar Li). The law and principles are all in the book. We don't have to see him,'' Xiao said. Other than Taiwan, Hong Kong is the only place where Li's books arepublished. Many of the books printed here are shipped elsewhere. Li also often stops in Hong Kong in transit to other places, Xiao said. Hong Kong has declared the Falungong sect a legal organisation.

The territory's chief executive Tung Chee-hwa reiterated that stance in San Francisco on Saturday. ``We are working under `one country, two systems' and in Hong Kong we have our own set of laws,'' he said. Beijing has also said it was up to the Hong Kong government to decide whether Falun Gong was legal in Hong Kong.

The Chinese govt wants me back -- Hongzhi

San Francisco: Li Hongzhi told The Wall Street Journal that he is worried the US may deport him following news that the US State Department has urged China to stop repressing his group. ``I've heard that the Chinese government wants to get me back to China through the FBI,'' Li said in an interview with daily, adding that his followers have asked the US State Department for protection and support. On Thursday, the State Department expresseddisappointment at China's decision to ban the popular sect, which describes itself as an exercise and meditation group.