Protesters kept out of Macau as vice-president enjoys city's charm

Harmony seemed to be in the air wherever Vice-President Xi Jinping went on his Macau visit, with Hong Kong protesters shut out of the city and pre-arranged happy 'tourists' appearing in his way.

Mr Xi hammered away at the importance of harmony in his two-day visit, saying it was a prerequisite for economic growth.

But as the state leader continued his trip, Hong Kong legislator Leung Kwok-hung and other members of the League of Social Democrats were denied entry for a planned protest in Macau against the Article 23 national security legislation.

Seven activists were intercepted at the ferry checkpoint and returned on a midday ferry, while two others who were not intercepted at the checkpoint were later plucked from the streets and returned.

Mr Leung, unable to present a petition to the vice-president, wrote a protest note on his entry refusal notice instead of signing it. The note read: 'Macau degenerates into a police state. Shame on [Macau Chief Executive] Edmund Ho [Hau-wah].'

A spokesman for the Security Police of Macau said seven people were denied entry, but information on people being detained was unavailable.

On Saturday, Mr Xi praised the Macau government's handling of the Article 23 legislation and called on Macau people to oppose 'external forces'. 'The SAR government and various social sectors must stay united and firmly oppose external forces interfering with Macau affairs,' he said.