Top Beijing official 'not sure' if trip approved | SCMP

But he denies that Democrat was denied entry due to political reasons

Beijing's office in Hong Kong said yesterday it did not know if a Democrat refused entry to the mainland on Saturday had received advance approval for the visit.

Law Chi-kwong, the party's election campaign chief and central committee member, was turned away at Shanghai airport after he arrived for a six-day academic visit to the city and Beijing.

He said he had received prior confirmation from the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong that his trip would not pose any problems.

But Li Gang, deputy director of the office, denied the refusal of entry was related to the Legislative Council elections next month or Dr Law's position in the party.

......The controversy came shortly after a series of what the party claimed were organised smear campaigns in the run-up to the election.

Li dismissed suggestions that the decision was related to the Legco election.

"This should not be regarded as a form of suppression initiated by the central government against the Democratic Party. There is no such thing, no organisation is involved in this incident. The incident has nothing to do with politics."......

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