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Cambodian tycoon Teng Boonma has been banned from entering Hong Kong, official sources have disclosed.

 The Immigration Department was told of the decision after Mr Teng Boonma was freed by a court on charges of providing false information. He had claimed diplomatic immunity.

 The ban was ordered after the South China Morning Post highlighted Mr Teng Boonma's background of shooting a tyre on an aircraft, claiming to bankroll a Cambodian coup and US State Department allegations he was involved in drugs.

 Officials said they were not aware of his background until it was highlighted.

 The charges against Mr Teng Boonma were that he had stated he was born in Bangkok instead of his real birthplace, Cambodia, in order to use a Thai passport.

 The Post obtained immigration documents showing Mr Teng Boonma had admitted the offences.

 Beijing, which had backed Mr Teng Boonma's diplomatic claim, was consulted over the ban and approved.

 'They appreciated our position,' an official said.

 Mr Teng Boonma gained notoriety when he shot out a plane tyre at Phnom Penh airport in 1997 after complaining about the service.

 He also claimed to have bankrolled Prime Minister Hun Sen's 1997 coup.

 The US State Department said it had reliable reports he was involved in drug trafficking. Mr Teng Boonma has denied the allegations.

 Legislative Council security panel chairman James To Kun-sun said it was a 'wise thing' to use immigration powers to prevent Mr Teng Boonma from returning to Hong Kong rather than asking Beijing to declare him persona non grata.

 The move would be less likely to harm China's diplomatic relations with Cambodia.

 Mr Teng Boonma has been operating a business called Thai Boon Roong since 1983 which has held substantial property investments, engaged in trading and distributed cigarettes.

 A man who answered the phone at Thai Boon Roong's office in Sheung Wan said he would not comment on whether Mr Teng Boonma, who lives in Cambodia, had been notified of the decision.

 'So far, so good,' he said when asked whether the business would continue.

 A bank launched legal action against Mr Teng Boonma and associated companies in January seeking possession of a flat on the Peak, offices and other property worth $97 million.



SAR bars Cambodian tycoon