Ban on Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet entering Hong Kong risks undermining business confidence, British minister warns
- Security chief refuses to explain why editor – previously refused a work visa – was again denied entry to the city, this time as a tourist
- Pro-democracy lawmakers said it was wrong for the government to bar Mallet
Hong Kong’s decision to ban a foreign journalist risked undermining business confidence, a visiting British minister warned on Friday, as emotions over the state of the city’s freedoms seesawed over whether another writer would be allowed entry to make public appearances.
In the end, Chinese dissident author Ma Jian passed through immigration smoothly and arts venue Tai Kwun backtracked on its much-criticised decision to cancel his two talks.
The heritage site which had originally turfed out Ma because it did not want to promote political interests said it was now satisfied after hearing him “clarify” he was speaking as a novelist and had no intention to use the platform for political purposes.
The centre also revealed it had attempted but failed to find alternative venues for Ma’s talks on his book China Dream, a satire on the communist state.
Another venue, the Annex at Nan Fung Place, had agreed to host Ma – a British citizen with Hong Kong permanent residency – but pulled out after its owner refused permission, sources told the Post.
Even as the fate of Ma’s talks was settled by day’s end, worries simmered over the state of media freedom as the government banned Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet from entering the city late on Thursday.