Security only reason for barring AmCham pair: Macau

Macau's security chief declined to comment directly on the case of the two AmCham executives. Image: Shutterstock

Macau Secretary for Security Wong Sio-chak has said that only security is taken into account when deciding whether to bar someone from the SAR, after two senior officials at the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong were refused entry.



Wong declined to comment specifically on the cases of AmCham president Tara Joseph and chairman Robert Grieves, who were detained at the border and sent back to Hong Kong on Saturday. The pair had been attempting to attend an AmCham ball.



But Wong said a person's background and occupation would not be considered in deciding whether to admit a person. He said any suggestion that the refusal to admit the AmCham members was part of Beijing's response to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act that has been enacted in the United States was mere speculation.



Beijing has barred visits by US warships and sanctioned a number of non-governmental organisations since US President Donald Trump signed the act into law last month.



Macau, like Hong Kong, is able to maintain its own immigration policies under its Basic Law. It has previously refused admission to some Hong Kong activists, including lawmakers, particularly at sensitive times.



The former Portuguese enclave marks the 20th anniversary of its Handover on December 20.