The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be taking up the issue of harassment to former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai during his recent visit to Hong Kong with the Chinese side.

He was harassed and briefly detained by the immigration officials in Hong Kong during a recent China trip.

Bhattarai said although the Chinese authorities’ action was unintentional, their treatment to the ordinary Nepali passport bearers is a cause for concern.

At a recent meeting with Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, Bhattarai urged him to resolve the treatment received by Nepali ordinary passport holders in Hong Kong, according to sources at the ministry.

“We will take up this matter with the Chinese side,” a source quoted Bairagi as telling the former PM. Bhattarai also called for a resolution of the matter through the diplomatic channel to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

Towards the end of their China trip, Bhattarai, his wife Hisila and his personal secretary Bishow Deep Pandey took a Chinese rail to Hong Kong where they were taken into custody by the immigration officials after learning that they were bearing ordinary Nepali passports.