Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau was turned away from Macau by the police on the 2nd of January on the grounds that she might pose a threat to local public safety, despite having no political agenda for her trip.
Emily Lau Wai-hing was the latest among Hong Kong politicians and activists shut out of Macau, after immigration officials last month turned away a group who planned to protest during President Xi Jinping’s visit.
Lawmaker Lau insisted she was merely out to enjoy some sightseeing with three other non-politician friends and had no political activities in mind.
“This is ridiculous,” she told the South China Morning Post.
“It sends a very wrong message to the people in both Macau and Hong Kong that the ‘one country, two systems’ principle is fading.”
“This is not a sensitive time, nor is there anyone important like Xi visiting the city,” she said. “It just shows the city is tightening the rules.” Lau said she was stopped at an immigration counter in the Outer Harbour ferry terminal while her friends were waved through.
“The officials said I might pose a threat to the city’s public safety and then told me to return to Hong Kong on the next ferry” without further inquiry or checking her luggage, she said.
Lau said she was able to enter Macau a few years ago, though she had also been turned away when she tried to stage protests.
She would not travel to Macau again, she said.
A Macau police spokesman said they were looking into Lau’s case. A spokesman for the Macau government declined to comment as they were awaiting details from immigration officials. (macaunews/scmp)
