Britain demands explanation from Hong Kong over rejection of visa renewal for Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet
But Beijing’s foreign affairs office in Hong Kong says under ‘one country, two systems’, the city’s government has the power to make decisions on visa issues and no foreign country has the right to interfere
Britain has asked the Hong Kong government for an urgent explanation over its refusal to renew the visa of journalist Victor Mallet who chaired a controversial talk by an independence activist, while a top policy adviser to the city’s leader said he was unclear about the reasons behind the denial.
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said on Saturday: “We are concerned by the rejection of Mr Mallet’s visa renewal. We have asked the Hong Kong government for an urgent explanation.”
“Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and its press freedoms are central to its way of life, and must be fully respected,” the office added in its statement.
A spokesman for the US consulate in Hong Kong echoed Britain’s concern, saying the denial was “deeply troubling”.
