China refuses to let Gary Glitter into Hong Kong

BRITISH glam rocker Gary Glitter, who served nearly three years in a Vietnamese prison for molesting children, was denied entry to Hong Kong after refusing to return to England, officials said yesterday.

Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, flew to Hong Kong last night after staying in the transit area of Bangkok’s international airport for several hours.

“The Chinese authorities have informed us that they have refused Paul Gadd entry into Hong Kong,” a spokeswoman for Britain’s Foreign Office said.

“It’s a matter for the Chinese authorities what happens next,” she said.

A second Foreign Office spokesman said Glitter was interviewed by Chinese immigrations officials in Hong Kong but was turned away “as a result of those interviews”.

The Hong Kong government said it doesn’t comment on individual cases but that immigration officials would “take into consideration all relevant factors and circumstances when processing applications”.

It was the third country to bar Glitter in two days.

On Tuesday night, Glitter was taken from his prison cell to a flight out of Vietnam. He had been booked to change planes in Bangkok en route to London.

He refused to board a flight to England, however, complaining of an earache. Thai authorities would not allow him to pass through immigration, leaving him in limbo.

Glitter, 64, was convicted in 2006 of committing “obscene acts with children”. The incidents involved two girls, aged 10 and 11.