Hong Kong denied entry to about 23,000 people in the first nine months of the year, the immigration chief has said, with 85 per cent of them considered to have “suspicious aims” for entering the city. Director of Immigration Benson Kwok told a Commercial Radio programme on Sunday that the people being denied entry amounted to 0.07 per cent of all arrivals from January to September this year, a figure similar to previous levels.
He did not elaborate when saying most of those rejected had “suspicious aims.” “Hong Kong welcomes genuine visitors,” Kwok said in Cantonese. “But we have the duty to guard the southern gate of our country.
We will strictly inspect [the visits] of unwelcomed individuals and bar them from entering when needed.” Kwok said the Immigration Department (ImmD) had compiled a “watch list” of unwelcomed individuals who were considered a risk to national security or Hong Kong’s social order. But residents would not be put on the watch list, he said.
He also said a new system had been implemented last month which required all airlines operating flights into Hong Kong to transfer passenger data to the ImmD prior to take-off. The system, known as the Advance Passenger Information System , collects information such as the full name, birthday, gender, and nationality of the passengers. Airlines should block a passenger from boarding the flight if the system provides a “no-board” direction.
Hong Kong permanent residents would not be affected .
