PRO-DEMOCRACY legislator Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee yesterday questioned Tung Chee-hwa's role in safeguarding the rights of SAR citizens.
Ms Ng, who was denied passage to Beijing last week, wrote to the Chief Executive after he said on Friday that the Central Government had the right to deny entry to SAR citizens.
Ms Ng said Mr Tung had the 'duty to represent and safeguard the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people to the mainland authorities'.
In her third letter to Mr Tung this week, she asks: 'When [Hong Kong citizens] are turned away from entering the mainland without reason, is the SAR Government prepared to represent them before the mainland? 'Do they take your standing aside as a strategy never to be at variance - on however small a matter for however short a time - with the central authorities, to the extent you would not even venture to give or obtain an explanation? 'What is your role then in representing the people of the SAR in the relationship with the mainland authorities?' Mr Tung has said Beijing has the right to deny anyone entry, and under the 'one-country two-systems' principle there is little the SAR can do.
He said: 'I am given to understand that according to the relevant laws of China, Ms Ng has been refused entry into Beijing.
'And I think we have to respect them when they have to make these decisions because it is within their right to do so.' Ms Ng was barred from boarding a Dragonair flight to Beijing last Sunday to attend a legal seminar.
