Besides Mr Chen and the ECC members, 400 Chinese travel agents arrived on February 22nd.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

Yet the homes of Mr. Chen's family members have been pelted with beer bottles, bricks and dead chickens (amid the outbreak of avian flu).

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Beijing's Vendetta

At the same time, I remain extremely concerned about the safety and well-being of Chen's family members who continue to be held under home confinement, as well as those who have assisted him.

WSJ: Chinese Activist Flees House Arrest

They ordered the media to say virtually nothing about his departure or about any concession made to America (and it certainly was a concession: local officials enraged by Mr Chen's escape have been terrorising other family members and friends in rural Shandong province since his departure).

ECONOMIST: A vital relationship survives a critical test

Family members have admitted to venality, and Mr Chen himself sits in jail accused of graft and embezzlement.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the CEO of the Jockey Club, which in addition to its gambling business also runs horse-racing and entertainment facilities for its 23, 000 members and the public, spoke with Te-Ping Chen about the challenges of running a sprawling Hong Kong institution.

WSJ: Hong Kong Jockey Club Strives to Race Ahead; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges

Chen may purposely not irritate the Chinese government out of his concerns for family members back home, or he may want to make peace with the government to pave the way for his future return to China.

FORBES: Blind Activist's Blind Faith Reveals Chinese Attitude toward Authority