Hong Kong visit of Tiananmen activists blocked

(GETTY IMAGES)

The Hong Kong government has decided to ban two former student leaders exiled for their roles in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, activists said yesterday, accusing local authorities of kowtowing to Beijing.

Exiled dissidents Wang Dan and Wu'er Kaixi both wanted to visit the semi-autonomous Chinese territory this weekend to attend the funeral of veteran activist Szeto Wah, an ardent supporter of the Tiananmen protests.

Activists said the office of Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang told them on Wednesday that the two men won't be allowed in, but gave no reason why.

While the Chinese military still views the 1989 protests as a "counter-revolutionary" movement, they are openly commemorated in Hong Kong in an annual candlelit vigil.