Donald Tsang Yam-kuen expressed his concern yesterday to Macau's chief executive about the city's repeated barring of visitors from Hong Kong when the pair met in Beijing.
Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah said his administration would not do anything unfavourable to normal exchanges between the two special administrative regions, but insisted Macau authorities had legitimate reasons to enforce its laws.
Politicians in Hong Kong have accused the Macau authorities of overreacting, and pressure is growing for the central government to step in.
Mr Tsang said he had formally raised the matter with Mr Ho. Both men are in Beijing for the annual session of the National People's Congress.
'I have channelled the concerns of the Hong Kong people to Mr Ho and he has listened to our views. I believe the chief executive will understand our feelings,' Mr Tsang said.
Mr Ho said: 'From the perspective of port management, there are laws governing the procedures. It is difficult for me to comment on each case ... I believe we will not do anything unfavourable to normal and beneficial exchanges.'
