Time to join Facebook and support the umbrella movement!
Occupy posting linked to Shanghai entry ban
Kevin Cheng
Friday, November 21, 2014
A stewardess refused entry into the mainland is "not an outspoken person," according to Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union.
The statement came as the flight attendant, who was working on only her fourth flight, was refused entry on Tuesday night after flight CX364 from Hong Kong landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at about 8pm.
A source said it is believed the entry ban is linked to her having posted a picture of a yellow umbrella on her Facebook page with a slogan that read "Uphold the Umbrella Movement."
Ground staff informed the woman she was not allowed to enter Shanghai.
She was questioned for about an hour and then forced to take a Dragonair flight back to Hong Kong.
It was her first flight to the mainland as a Cathay Pacific employee.
The union's operations executive, Ada So, said it was "unlikely" the flight attendant had been refused entry because of anything she may have said or expressed to others.
"One of our executive committee members who has worked with her on a previous flight said this was unlikely, as she was not an outspoken person," she said.
So said this was the first time the union had heard of a flight attendant being refused entry into the mainland for apparent political reasons.
A recording has been circulating on WhatsApp, which said the woman was banned from entering Shanghai due to her support for Occupy Central.
The recording was reportedly from her colleague.
Another WhatsApp message identified the flight attendant who was refused entry as the "Yellow Ribbon stewardess," so called for having visited the Mong Kok protest zone.
Both WhatsApp messages have yet to be verified.
An airline spokeswoman refused to provide further details beyond confirming that "a Cathay Pacific cabin crew was not able to enter the territory on November 18 when the flight arrived at Shanghai Pudong."