Backlash as Hong Kong denies visa renewal for Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet
Mallet chaired a talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club by the leader of a separatist party, drawing the ire of Beijing and pro-establishment politicians
Hong Kong has set off a storm by refusing to renew the visa of a British journalist after he chaired a controversial talk at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club by an independence activist in August, despite objections from the city’s government and Beijing.
“The Hong Kong authorities have rejected an application to renew the work visa of Victor Mallet, Asia news editor at the Financial Times,” a spokeswoman for the newspaper headquartered in London said on Friday.
“This is the first time we have encountered this situation in Hong Kong, and we have not been given a reason for the rejection.”
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club issued a statement expressing deep concern and urging the government to let Mallet stay.
“The FCC is expecting a full explanation from the Hong Kong authorities for this extraordinary move, which is extremely rare, if not unprecedented,” the statement read.
“Hong Kong rightly prides itself on its reputation as a place where the rule of law applies and where freedom of speech is protected by law. The FCC has been proud to represent and champion that reputation since it moved here in 1949.
“In the absence of any reasonable explanation, the FCC calls on the Hong Kong authorities to rescind their decision.”
Mallet came to Hong Kong in October 2016 to run the Financial Times’ news operations in Asia, after an earlier stint in the city. He has been the FCC’s first vice-president since last year.