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Stella Lee

The number of people denied entry at Chek Lap Kok last year rose by almost 28 per cent against the previous year, despite a drop in travellers flying into the SAR during the same period.

The Immigration Department, which provided the figures, said 'undesirable persons' would be prevented from entering Hong Kong to protect the SAR's interests and security.

According to the department, 9,948 visitors who arrived at the airport last year were barred from entering, 27.5 per cent more than the 7,778 turned away in 2000.

The total number of visitors, however, dropped from 6,734,156 in 2000 to 6,552,523 last year.

Asked if tighter security controls following the September 11 attacks had anything to do with the surge, a department spokesman said the reasons for entry denial had not been analysed.

But he said the department noted there had been 2,000 'technical' refusals in July and September last year.

'These cases related to improperly documented passengers who were brought to Hong Kong by flights scheduled for Taiwan but diverted to Hong Kong due to inclement weather,' he said.

He said as these travellers had not been in possession of the required documents, they were technically refused entry but were allowed to stay outside the airport grounds pending their onward flight.

The spokesman said officers had to ensure that visitors arriving in Hong Kong met normal entry requirements such as being in possession of valid travel documents, adequate funds and onward or return air tickets.

Among those refused entry were 13 overseas Falun Gong members who wanted to join the group's conference in January and more than 100 other members in May when President Jiang Zemin was in town for the Fortune Global Forum.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui yesterday said police were confident that security risks during events marking the fifth anniversary of the handover would not be high. State leaders are expected to attend.

Mr Tsang said security arrangements for the handover anniversary would not be affected despite many of his officers being unhappy about the Government's plan to cut their pay through legislation.



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