Hong Kong immigration chief shoots down ‘conspiracy’ claims over visitor rejections, insisting that officers follow law and policy

Erick Tsang says tens of thousands of cases are handled regularly by frontline staff, and most go unnoticed, with focus on protecting city’s interests

Nearly 90 per cent of cases declined in 2017 involved doubtful purpose of visit

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Director of Immigration Erick Tsang. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 5:36pm, 6 Jan 2019Updated: 9:34pm, 6 Jan 2019

There is “no conspiracy involved” when visitors are refused entry into Hong Kong without explanation, the city’s immigration chief has said, adding that his officers are guided by law and policy.

Speaking on a radio programme on Sunday morning, Director of Immigration Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said: “Do not always assume there is a conspiracy behind the decisions of the department, or whether actions are linked to specific cases. We handle many cases daily and most go unnoticed.”

He added that safeguarding national security was one of his job priorities.

Victor Mallet was denied entry into Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So

Tsang’s comments followed recent controversy centred on the Immigration Department’s barring of veteran British journalist Victor Mallet from entering Hong Kong as a tourist.

Mallet was earlier denied a renewal of his work visa after he hosted a talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) featuring separatist Andy Chan Ho-tin in August last year. Chan was founder of the Hong Kong National Party, a group outlawed by the government in September on the grounds of national security.

Do not always assume there is a conspiracy behind the decisions of the department

Erick Tsang, immigration chief