Recently, Hong Kong appeared to show a stricter immigration policy than mainland China as it turned away a German activist who had arrived from Beijing after travelling around China. He was not the first to be turned away. HKFP rounds up known, prominent cases of entry refusals.
For decades, free-wheeling Hong Kong was reputed as an open Asian economic base, travel hub and place to do business, with a liberal border regime. But, in recent years, the city has taken a stricter, or more discretionary, approach to whom it is allowing in – particularly when it comes to political figures.
Earlier this month, it appeared to demonstrate a more rigorous immigration policy than mainland China when it turned away a German activist who had arrived after freely travelling around Sichuan and Beijing.
As has become typical, the activist – an award-winning journalist and University of Hong Kong graduate – was not given a reason for his denial of entry. David Missal was not the first such person to be turned away at the border. In the future, would-be visitors may find themselves unable even to board a flight to the city.
On September 4, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced the implementation of a new Advanced Passenger Information system “to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong.”
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Explainer: Banned from Hong Kong – a brief history of entry denials at the city’s borders
