Failed in Beijing, try Macau! A group of 14 pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong have been turned back on their mission to put their case to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his visit to Macau. No massive surprises there, then.
The group, which are calling for free elections in both Hong Kong and Macau and for the release of China’s political prisoners, only made it as far as the ferry terminal before being repatriated.
The Macau authorities were taking no chances after President Xi arrived this morning for celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Macau’s handover to China. They proceded in turning back the disgruntled gaggle without even checking their IDs or giving a reason.
The group did, however, manage to raise a yellow umbrella or two in protest before they got back on the ferry.
That’s more than can be said for those attending Xi’s arrival at Macau Airport, at which umbrellas were banned, despite the rain. Onlookers were provided with raincoats instead.
If that’s the way it’s going to be in China from now on, we foresee a lot of tall people moving there just to enjoy the luxury of not having their eyes poked out on a daily basis.
Four Apple Daily reporters who were planning on covering Xi’s visit were also denied entry to Macau today, according to SCMP.
Last month, three protest leaders from the Hong Kong Federation of Students were turned back at Hong Kong Airport as they attempted to fly to Beijing and bring their call for universal suffrage to President Xi.
Reader Interactions