At least seven activists, including two Canadians, have been banned entry to Hong Kong prior to the Olympic flame's return to Chinese soil after a turbulent 20-nation tour.

Two members of Students for a Free Tibet, who were planning to hold a news conference to coincide with the city's May 2 torch relay, were barred from entering Hong Kong upon their arrival.

In a news release, the group identified the two Canadians as Tsering Lama, 24, from Toronto, and Kate Woznow, 27, formerly of Vancouver.

Woznow, the campaign director for the group, told CTV's Canada AM she was pulled aside at customs and told she wasn't going to be allowed in.

"When I pressed them further and said is it because I'm here to speak with media, they said they weren't going to give me any details for the reason of my deportation and I was sent on a plane back to New York," Woznow said.

She said she had hoped China would live up to its promise to provide greater transparency ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

"I'm disappointed, for sure," Woznow said. "I mean we've been hearing the Chinese government promise media freedom, that there would be an openness around these Olympic Games and in fact we're seeing the opposite."

She said Hong Kong has typically been more tolerant of individuals speaking out against China's human rights record, but that appears to no longer be the case.

Speaking to Canada AM, CTV's Beijing Bureau Chief Steve Chao said that human rights groups in Hong Kong are saying that "democratic freedoms . . . are being suppressed by the local government."

"To deport them for just wanting to express themselves is a big question mark as to exactly what kind of freedoms can be enjoyed in Hong Kong," Chao added.

"And that is very much a concern to many residents in Hong Kong . . . where many people have fought long and hard to keep the freedom they have enjoyed for several years."

Three Danish activists were deported over the weekend and another activist -- an organizer for an independent Chinese writers' group that calls for freedom of expression in China -- also was turned away on Tuesday.

Hong Kong, the former British colony that was returned to China 11 years ago, is supposed to enjoy Western-style civil liberties, including freedom of expression, that are denied on the Chinese mainland.

Hong Kong grants many entry visas to Westerners, raising fears of demonstrations during Friday's Olympic torch relay.

There are plans to have 3,000 police officers guard the torch during the run.

Pro-Tibetan protesters have disrupted the Olympic torch relay in a number of other countries, including France, the U.K. and the United States.

Actress Mia Farrow is expected to arrive in Hong Kong Thursday to raise awareness about the violence in Sudan's Darfur regions. Activists want China to use its influence to press Sudan into allowing UN peacekeepers into the country.

China is a major trading partner with Sudan.

With files from The Associated Press