Taiwanese political and cultural commentator, and former editor-in-chief of Hong Kong lifestyle publication City Magazine, Chang Tieh-chih was yesterday barred from entering Hong Kong, according to social media and reports.
Chang Tieh-chih, a prominent media columnist and pro-democracy supporter, wrote on his Twitter yesterday that he was refused entry at the city’s airport.
“Finally, I was denied entry at Hong Kong airport,” he tweeted.
The Taiwanese intellectual tweeted that his wife, who is a Hongkonger, was allowed through but he was turned back.
The SCMP cited a source explaining that Chang was denied entry as his dependent visa had expired.
Writing on his Facebook, Chang said he had given border officials his Hong Kong resident identity card but told it was expired. He said he then tried to apply for a visa online at the airport but the application was rejected.
A former resident of Hong Kong, Chang is a columnist for a range of publications in Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China.
He said he was visiting Hong Kong to attend a cultural conference.
Speaking to HKFP, Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki criticised the blocking of a “private citizen” from Hong Kong, saying it hurt the city’s reputation and was another blow to the “One Country, Two Systems” model.
The turning back of Chang comes after immigration staff in October refused entry to British national Benedict Rogers, a prominent human rights campaigner and vocal supporter of democracy.
Under “One Country, Two Systems,” Hong Kong is supposed to handle its immigration affairs, though following Roger’s refusal, China asserted its right to deny entry to the city to any individual.
“Hong Kong affairs are China’s domestic affairs. We oppose the interference in China’s domestic affairs in any way by any foreign government, institution or person,” a Beijing official said at the time.
