AN MP was banned from entering Hong Kong to visit her newborn grandson after being held at the airport, quizzed and force to fly home.
Wera Hobhouse, a Liberal Democrat, flew to the region on Thursday – where her passport was removed.
She was then subjected to questioning over the purpose of her visit, while her bags were thoroughly searched and swabbed.
Officials then put her on the first flight home five hours later – with no explanation.
The 65-year-old from Bath was left “shocked” by the ordeal and “very close to tears”, according to The Times.
She added: “When I was given the decision my voice was shaking and I was just saying: ‘Why, please explain to me?’ They never gave me an explanation. That was so cruel.
“I just said: ‘I want to see my grandson, I want to cuddle him. He was born three months ago, what is the problem?’ I am obviously devastated.”
She also said that she was not even permitted to hug her son, who she hadn’t seen for a year and who was waiting for her in arrivals.
Wera believes the events were because she is an MP – and has criticised the lack of free speech in the region, which was under British rule until 1997.
She is also a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group that scrutinises human rights in China.
Members of the committee were warned about a potential ban from Hong Kong in 2014 – after announcing a visit as part of an inquiry.
But Thursday’s events mark the first known instance of a MP being refused entry since 1997.
Wera’s husband, William Hobhouse, was allowed to enter – but decided to return to the UK.
The pair’s son, an academic at a university, moved to Hong Kong in 2019.
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Wera is a Liberal Democrat MP from Bath[/caption]
