A senior reporter with the Chinese-language newspaper Apple Daily - known for its strong pro-democracy stance - has been denied entry to Beijing and had his travel permit seized under what was said to be the national security law.
Principal reporter Norman Choy flew to Beijing on Tuesday for a five-day reporting trip ahead of next month's Olympic Games. On arrival at the immigration hall, he was taken to a room by a uniformed officer, while his photographer was allowed to clear immigration and enter the city.
Choy said he had been detained for about 15 minutes and asked by officers about his plans in Beijing.
'I raised some questions but I was ignored. At last, an officer came in and told me I could not be let in according to national security law. There was no further explanation. My home return permit was not returned and they took me to a flight back to Hong Kong that day,' said Choy, who has worked for the daily for more than 10 years.
For his personal safety, the photographer was also called back.
Choy has reported from the mainland often, most recently in late May. 'I was puzzled. This time we were only planning to do some soft features and environmental protection issues in Beijing in the run-up to the Olympics. There is nothing sensitive,' he said.