Exclusive | More travellers from Asia-Pacific region refused entry to Hong Kong amid heightened terrorism fears
Number barred from the city more than doubled in past three years to reach 14,000 in 2016
Almost 14,000 people from across Asia and the Pacific region were refused entry to Hong Kong last year, with most of them told the purpose of their visit was “doubtful”.
That figure has more than doubled in the past three years, according to official statistics, and experts say the trend could be a result of heightened fears over terrorism.
Statistics provided by the Immigration Department showed 13,871 people in the region were denied entry in 2016. Some 11,667 were rejected over a “doubtful purpose of visit”, 2,147 did not have the proper documentation, including visas, and 57 held forged travel documents.
The department did not provide any further details on the reasons for refusal.
Whereas the overall number of rejected travellers declined slightly from 56,855 in 2015 to 53,499 in 2016 for the first time in six years, official figures showed there was an increase of people from Asia Pacific being turned away.
In 2016, there were 13,871 travellers from this region who were refused entry into Hong Kong – representing 30 per cent of those who were turned away – whereas there were 11,491 people who faced similar situations in 2014.