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FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
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INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 000011 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/CM; ALSO FOR DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM HK MC
SUBJECT: HONG KONG DEMOCRATS DENIED ENTRY TO MACAU FOR 
ARTICLE 23 RALLY 
 
REF: (A) HONG KONG 2258 (B) HONG KONG 2229 
 
Classified By: Acting Consul General Christopher J. Marut for Reasons 1 
.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Over twenty Hong Kong activists, including 
nine legislators, traveling to Macau to participate in a 
rally opposing Macau's Article 23 legislation were denied 
entry December 20, Macau Special Administrative Region 
Establishment Day.  A Macau government press release 
indicated the group was denied under Macau's Internal 
Security Law, although legislators told us Macau Immigration 
officials neither asked them officially to state their 
purpose of travel nor indicated under what section of the law 
they were being denied entry.  Macau democrats protested the 
action, but told us no local media would print their 
statement.  The Hong Kong government limited itself to noting 
Macau's right to determine its own immigration policies.  A 
vocal sector of the Macau community applauded the decision, 
opposing interference in Macau affairs by Hong Kong 
activists. End summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Comment: Despite having the votes to pass whatever law 
it wishes, the Macau Government to date has "played fair" in 
the Article 23 debate, even admitting firebrand legislator 
Leung "Long Hair" Kwok-hung to Macau previously to attend an 
earlier protest (ref B).  That it chose to refuse entry to 
the Hong Kong group this time probably has to do with the 
large size of the group (the previous visit was by only three 
Hong Kong legislators) and the coincidence with Establishment 
Day events.  The result was probably more media coverage than 
would have occurred had the legislators been allowed into 
Macau.  Had they been admitted, the Macau government has the 
influence to ensure any local media coverage was relegated to 
the back pages (or even dropped), and international media 
might not have picked up the story at all.  For the democrats 
in both regions, this action was a step beyond the parameters 
we understood they had set for themselves.  The Macau 
democrats remain mindful that public sentiment backs the 
government, and that being seen as close to "unpatriotic 
trouble-makers" like "Long Hair" can cost them at the ballot 
box.  The Hong Kong democrats had led us to believe they were 
in solidarity with their Macau counterparts, but were also 
taking a back seat on this issue.  Such a large delegation, 
including senior pan-democratic party leaders, traveling to 
participate in a protest suggests a calculation that the 
stakes have risen sufficiently to warrant more risk.  End 
comment. 
 
¶3. (C) In a clearly pre-meditated decision, Macau immigration 
officials denied entry to a group of Hong Kong activists 
traveling to attend a December 20 rally organized by Macau 
activists including the pro-democracy New Macau Association 
(NMA).  The Macau government reported 24 people denied entry, 
including eight members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council 
(LegCo).  Media reported some of the travelers from Hong 
Kong, including some legislative aides, were able to enter. 
Citing Macau's Internal Security Law, the Public Security 
Police Force (which controls immigration) stated their 
obligation "to reject the entry of ineligible non-residents 
in order to maintain public security and public order." 
LegCo members Cyd Ho and Emily Lau both told us Macau 
officials refused to cite a specific section of the law.  Ho 
said they were never formally asked the purpose of their 
travel.  All those denied entry refused to sign statements 
presented by Macau authorities acknowledging they were 
denied.  Lau told us the standoff lasted about an hour, after 
which they were sent back to Hong Kong. 
 
¶4. (C) LegCo members included Democratic Party (DPHK) Chair 
Albert Ho and Vice Chair Emily Lau, plus DPHK legislators Lee 
Wing-tat and Kam Nai-wai; Confederation of Trade Unions 
General Secretary Lee Cheuk-yan; League of Social Democrats 
legislator Leung "Long Hair" Kwok-hung; Civic Act-up 
legislator (and pan-democratic "box lunch" caucus convener) 
Cyd Ho; and Civic Party (CP) Vice Chair (and former Chief 
Executive candidate) Alan Leong.  A ninth legislator not 
counted in the Macau government press release, CP Leader 
Audrey Eu, took a later ferry than the main group and was 
also refused entry. 
 
¶5. (C) The Macau Government issued a statement "giving full 
backing to the police action," although it is extremely 
unlikely that immigration authorities took the decision 
themselves.  From the Hong Kong side, Secretary for Security 
Ambrose Lee and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland 
Affairs Stephen Lam both made comments to the media upholding 
Macau's right to manage its own immigration affairs.  Lee was 
also quoted in Macau media as saying none of the legislators 
had requested assistance from the Hong Kong Security Bureau, 
 
HONG KONG 00000011  002 OF 002 
 
 
which would be the Macau Public Security Police Force's most 
direct counterpart.  Hong Kong media also quoted Hong Kong 
Central Government Liaison Office (CGLO) Deputy Director Li 
Gang as respecting Macau's decision, as well as his opinion 
that Hong Kong's main concerns were the economy and improving 
people's livelihoods. 
 
¶6. (SBU) To date, while individual legislators and parties 
have made statements, LegCo as an institution has not made 
public comment.  Hong Kong media covered the issue, but 
neither pro-democracy Apple Daily nor centrist Ming Pao leant 
editorial support to the legislators.  East Week, a magazine 
published by the generally pro-government Sing Tao Group, 
dismissed the democrats' actions as a "show" for their 
"little brothers" in Macau, and suggested Alan Leong was 
looking for publicity in advance of another run for Chief 
Executive in 2012. 
 
¶7. (C) Macau media reported on the decision, including the 
Hong Kong government and CGLO comments and quotes from the 
NMA, but did not editorialize pro or con.  NMA legislator Au 
Kam-sam told us by e-mail that the NMA had released a 
statement condemning the government, but that no local media 
would pick it up.  On the other side, directly-elected Macau 
legislators Chan Meng-kam and Ung Choi-kun, from the 
pro-government United Citizen's Association, were quoted in 
the Macau press as opposing outside interference in Macau 
legal matters.  Ten local demonstrators also reportedly 
picketed at the Macau-Hong Kong ferry terminal to protest 
Hong Kong people's involvement in an internal Macau matter. 
Macau Inter-University Institute Lecturer Eric Sautede 
(protect) told us even some better-educated and -traveled 
Macanese support the government's decision, noting one of his 
local friends argued that the Hong Kong visitors intended to 
"embarrass" Macau. 
MARUT