On Saturday December 7, AmCham Chairman Robert Grieves and AmCham President Tara Joseph were separately prevented from entering Macau as they were headed to the annual AmCham Macau Ball.
Both Robert and Tara were given no reason for why they were delayed. After several hours, and after having to sign a statement that they voluntarily agreed not to pursue entry into Macau, they both returned to Hong Kong without any difficulty.
We are puzzled as to why this happened, given this was simply a social occasion to celebrate AmCham Macau’s annual gathering.
Moreover the American Chamber is a business chamber and has been consistent in its support for the development of business in the Greater Bay Area.
We hope that this is just an over reaction to current events and that international business can constructively forge ahead.
香港美国商会主席葛理福（Robert Grieves）被拒入境澳门。（香港美国商会网页图片）
香港美国商会会长早泰娜同被拒入境澳门。（资料图片／欧嘉乐摄）
香港美国商会（AmCham）今日（7日）表示，商会主席葛理福（Robert Grieves）及会长早泰娜（Tara Joseph）同被拒入境澳门。商会指，二人未被告知遭拒入境的原因，在等候数小时后，更要签署声明，指是自愿不进入澳门，其后顺利回港。商会指对事件感困惑，并希望只是对近期事件的「过度反应」。
商会：盼只是对近期事件过度反应
商会指对事件感困惑，因二人只是到出席商会在澳门年度聚会的社交场合，而商会亦一直支持大湾区商业发展。商会希望事件只是对近期事件的过度反应（over reaction），国际商贸可稳步向前。
香港美国商会今年10月曾对其会员进行调查，发现61%的受访会员企业受困于示威带来的紧张局势，更有24%打算缩减或离开香港市场，主要打算迁往新加坡。当时商会长早泰娜（Tara Joseph）曾指是次调查结果是一个「警号」，反映目前是停止暴力及重整社会的重要时刻。
本月19日是澳门回归20周年日子兼新任特首贺一诚就职典礼，有指国家领导人将会出席仪式，但详情未公布。过往每到回归纪念日，澳门都会加大拒绝一些港人入境，出入境部门多数引用《内部保安纲要法》，指当时人「对内部保安的稳定构成威胁」。
香港美国商会回应全文（只有英文版）
On Saturday December 7, AmCham Chairman Robert Grieves and AmCham President Tara Joseph were separately prevented from entering Macau as they were headed to the annual AmCham Macau Ball.
Both Robert and Tara were given no reason for why they were delayed. After several hours, and after having to sign a statement that they voluntarily agreed not to pursue entry into Macau, they both returned to Hong Kong without any difficulty.
We are puzzled as to why this happened, given this was simply a social occasion to celebrate AmCham Macau’s annual gathering.
Moreover the American Chamber is a business chamber and has been consistent in its support for the development of business in the Greater Bay Area.
We hope that this is just an over reaction to current events and that international business can constructively forge ahead.