South China Morning Post reporter denied entry into Macau to cover Xi Jinping’s visit for 20th anniversary handover celebrations
- Senior journalist Phila Siu was detained and questioned for three hours before being sent back to Hong Kong
- He was asked to fill in a form providing personal details, including his address, parents’ names, marital status and the purpose of his visit
A South China Morning Post reporter assigned to cover Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Macau was denied entry on Tuesday on the grounds he might pose a security threat.
Senior reporter Phila Siu was put on a ferry back to Hong Kong after being detained and questioned for three hours on the eve of Xi’s three-day visit to the casino hub to mark the 20th anniversary of its handover to Chinese administration.
Editor-in-chief Tammy Tam expressed deep concern and disappointment over Siu’s deportation.
“It’s extremely regrettable that Phila was treated with such suspicion, and it’s unthinkable that he – or any other journalist from the Post – would pose any kind of security threat to any jurisdiction,” she said. “I’m also very puzzled as to why he would be dealt with in this manner and denied entry. It makes no sense.”
Despite having signed up as a media professional to cover ceremonies from Wednesday to Friday, Siu was stopped and taken to a room by the authorities when he arrived at the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal shortly before 1.30pm on Tuesday.
On Monday night he had been informed by the Macau government to pick up his press accreditation the following day.
