Li Gang

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.