Immigration looking for masks, pepper spray, helmets

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/28
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Immigration at Hong Kong International Airport has started conducting thorough luggage checks for passengers arriving from Taiwan, looking for materials related to the anti-extradition bill protests in the territory, reports said Saturday (September 28).

Taiwanese travelers found in possession of such materials might be refused entry to Hong Kong in future, the Central News Agency reported.

Since the protests against the extradition bill and against growing Chinese influence emerged last June, support in Taiwan has also expanded, with groups sending over items like gas masks and helmets to be used by protesters to protect themselves against police violence.

Hong Kong’s Chinese-language Ming Pao newspaper reported that senior immigration officials had ordered staff at the airport to look out for such items, with special attention to be paid to all passengers arriving from Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]