Dear Ms. Mao:

On behalf of the Consul General, thank you for your May 11 letter about your recent experience at the Hong Kong airport. We understand that you attempted to enter Hong Kong on May 6, 2001 at Chek Lap Kok airport, but were refused entry by Hong Kong Immigration and detained in the early morning hours of May 7. In your letter you stated that Hong Kong authorities refused to let you contact the Consulate or a lawyer during your eight-hour detention, despite your repeated requests. You also noted that the authorities' response to your question as to why you were being denied entry was, "We have the right to refuse any one in without the need for any reason." The Consulate subsequently received written notification by fax from Hong Kong Immigration late in the afternoon of May 7 confirming that you had been denied entry. Under "reason for detention" the faxed notification read, "refused landing passenger in HK."

On May 15, the Consul General met with senior officials at the Hong Kong Security Bureau to discuss your case and several others that have similar characteristics. At that meeting, the Consul General forcefully raised these cases and asked the Hong Kong government both to explain the basis for these actions and to re-examine the individual cases. The Secretary for Security asserted, without providing any details, that the decisions were based on the merits, and were part of the special security measures adopted to ensure a smooth Global Forum (held in Hong Kong May 8-10). She also said, however, that a decision to exclude someone during such a "sensitive period", did not necessarily mean that the person would be excluded again in the future. She said decisions such as these depend on the circumstance of each case prevailing at the time.

The Secretary for Security would not offer any specific information about any of the individual cases. However, she did undertake to have her staff take another look at them. The Consulate intends to follow up with the Immigration Department in the coming days, and will inform you of any clarification we receive of your case.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

MaryKay L. Carlson Consul American Citizens Services