Dissident denied entry to Hong Kong to visit sick mother, lawmakers say

Hong Kong denied entry to an exiled leader of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, exiled in the US, who wanted to visit his ailing mother in mainland China, according to pan-democratic lawmakers.

Xiong Yan, who was jailed for his role in the 1989 protests, was interrogated by immigration officers at Chek Lap Kok airport for several hours on Thursday night after his arrival. He was put on a return flight to Las Vegas by midnight, said Democratic Party lawmaker Albert Ho Chun-yan, who also leads the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.

The incident showed the government was lengthening a rumoured "blacklist" of dissidents, as Xiong had entered the city successfully six years ago, said Lee Cheuk-yan, secretary of the alliance, which stages the annual June 4 candlelight vigil for Tiananmen victims.

"Xiong attended the vigil and even spoke on stage when he was let into the city in 2009," Lee said.

"Apparently he was added to the government's blacklist afterwards. The case proves the so-called blacklist not only really exists but is also expanding."

The Labour Party stalwart added: "He was holding a US passport with his name written as 'Yan Xiong' instead of the other way round, so maybe that was why the Hong Kong government missed it last time." Lee had planned to meet Xiong when he arrived at Chek Lap Kok airport.