A legislator has been told by a senior official in the SAR Office in Beijing he is welcome to visit it if he can secure a travel permit.
But Szeto Wah of the Democratic Party was told by the office's deputy director, Tam Wing-pong, that it had no ability to help him obtain a permit from mainland authorities.
Mr Tam said: 'Hong Kong people are welcome to visit Beijing, but the Beijing Office does not have the power to get them a permit.' Mr Szeto sought help from the new office at a special Finance Committee meeting after an application for a permit to visit the mainland was rejected repeatedly.
He was told by China Travel Service staff the Guangdong Public Security Department had rejected his application.
'Can the Government contact the Guangdong police to find out the reason?' Mr Szeto asked.
Acting Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Clement Mak Ching-hung said the Constitutional Affairs Bureau had been investigating the matter.
