HONG KONG – Hong Kong and Macau are involved in a spat over Macau’s move to ban 40 Hong Kong residents from entering the SAR.
The Standard newspaper reported that some Hong Kong legislators are calling on the Hong Kong government to adopt a tit-for-tat immigration policy with Macau
One legislator went as far as suggesting Macau prefers loan sharks and sex tourists to Hong Kong lawmakers, journalists and academics.
Macau’s delegate at a meeting in Beijing, casino mogul Stanley, said those who were barred deserved what they got as “they are all troublemakers”.
The row was sparked when Hong Kong University law dean Johannes Chan, who had been invited to address a university in Macau, was turned away.
In a Legislative Council adjournment debate, Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho tabled a motion accusing the SAR government of failing to ensure immigration freedom for Hong Kong residents.
“What Macau did is aggressive, insulting and discriminating and showed no respect for Hong Kong,” Ho said.
“If Macau refuses to lift the ban, the Hong Kong government should ban Macau officials from entering the city or using Hong Kong as a transit point.”
Legislator Wong Sing-chi said,”It seems that Hong Kong lawmakers, journalists and academics are inferior to gamblers, sex tourists and loan sharks.”
