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6 / Periscope

News reports about Chinese immigration officers conducting phone checks at border check points such as Lok Ma Chau
station have provoked concerns of privacy and fear among travellers to China.

isiting Shenzhen for a culinary tour or enjoying a hipster incident, Ng says he will avoid or post-
lifestyle used to be a quick getaway for Hong Kong people pone any trip to China from now on.
Vat weekends. Yet, news reports about Chinese immigration Similar to Ng, Karen Wong Tsz-
officers conducting phone checks at border check points have pro- ying, 23, also had her bag checked at the
voked concerns of privacy and fear among travellers to China, after Huanggang Port in August. The main-
the anti-extradition law bill movement. Social media posts of Hong land authority inspected her large-size
Kong citizens and foreign visitors being interrogated and required to luggage with only snacks and drinks.
delete photos and content related to protests in Hong Kong by main- To protect her privacy, Wong deleted all
land authorities have gone viral online. messages and deactivated her Facebook
and Instagram accounts before travelling
Fear of leisure travellers to the Mainland. “I am afraid of visiting
Charlie Ng, 22, shares his unpleasant experience when he crossed China now. My major concern is phone
the border at Lok Ma Chau. “I will definitely bring a clean work check. I am also worried of being asked
phone or an old phone only. You cannot say no [when being told] to to film taped confession or being interro-
unlock your mobile phone at the border,” Ng says. He recalls walking gated [by mainland officers],” Wong says.
pass the Lok Ma Chau Control Point with his friend of similar age, a
mainland officer stopped and led them to a temporary checkpoint.
Ng describes the checkpoint as a tent-like station with four sides sur- I am afraid of visiting
rounded by black nylon fabric that has separate inspection booths China now... I am also
inside.
“I have done a lot of research in LIHKG and have known that I worried of being asked to
am likely to be inspected so I just brought a work phone,” Ng adds. film taped confession or
Ng explains he did so as his work phone contains no politically sen-
sitive photos or videos. He recalls being questioned by a female in- being interrogated (by
spector about his purpose of visiting Shenzhen, who browsed all his mainland officers),
social media apps, particularly the photo album. The inspector also
searched his bag to see if there was another personal phone. After this