12/15/00 5:49 (New York)

HONG KONG (AP)--Three Hong Kong adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual group were refused entry into Macau ahead of the former Portuguese enclave's handover anniversary, but some said Friday they will try again to get in next week.

Macau immigration control officers gave no reasons when they refused two men and one woman, who were attempting to enter Macau on separate occasions in December, said spokeswoman Hui Cheung Yee-han.

Falun Gong adherents in Macau are planning to stage a protest during the anniversary celebrations, which are expected to be attended by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Another Falun Gong spokeswoman, Sharon Xu, said she feared there will be more refusals of entry as Wednesday's anniversary of handover draws near.

"There is no legal reason for the refusal of the entry," said Hui. "We think it is unfair because it's a peaceful rally and there won't be any influence on the citizens there."

The Macau government hasn't commented on the incidents.

Macau Falun Gong adherents said authorities has already turned down their application to hold one demonstration, saying the location wasn't appropriate. They have filed another application but say there has been no response.

Falun Gong has attracted millions of followers, most of them in China, with its combination of slow-motion exercises and its philosophy drawn from Taoism, Buddhism and the often unorthodox ideas of founder Li Hongzhi.

It has been outlawed in mainland China but remains legal in Hong Kong and Macau, where citizens enjoy considerably more freedoms under largely autonomous local governments.