Macau bans HK activists after May Day rally

HONG KONG, May 13 (Reuters) Macau today banned Hong Kong activists from entering the former Portugese enclave for the second time in a week following violent Labour Day protests last week.

Outspoken Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate ''Long hair'' Leung Kwok-hung was among seven activists prevented from entering Macau today to protest police action during the May 1 rally.

Leung said and six other Hong Kongers were stopped by immigration officials on arrival in Macau today and forced to take a return ferry back to Hong Kong.

''It's incredible. I've never seen a government behave like that,'' Leung told Reuters. Macau government officials could not be reached for comment.

Last week five Hong Kong activists were arrested in Macau and barred from entry in the wake of the May 1 demonstration, Leung said.

The Labour Day rally drew 6,000 Macau citizens who demanded tougher laws against illegal workers and an end to corruption.

It turned violent as a police officer fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd and one man was struck by a bullet.

Leung said the group from Hong Kong today had planned to join a sit-in to protest police action during the May 1 rally and to give a petition to the government demanding an independent investigation into the police action.

''The Macau government should explain why they need to restrict demonstrations through their main streets. It's a violation of human rights,'' Leung said.

Leung said he had been banned from Macau before, but only during visits by top Chinese officials.

REUTERS DS KP1516