ZCZC
BFF-10
HONGKONG-CHINA-POLITICS-PRESS-FREEDOM
Backlash over FT journalist denied entry to Hong Kong
HONG KONG, Nov 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Rights campaigners launched a blistering
backlash in Hong Kong Friday after a senior Financial Times journalist was
denied entry to the semi-autonomous city, decrying another blow to freedoms
under an assertive China.
The refusal by immigration officials to let in the FT’s Asia news editor
Victor Mallet Thursday came hours after an arts centre hosting the city’s
high-profile literary festival cancelled appearances by exiled Chinese writer
Ma Jian.
Amnesty International said it was a “distressing signal” about the state
of press freedom in Hong Kong and smacked of “retaliation” against Mallet.
The veteran journalist had already had his work visa renewal denied last
month and had left Hong Kong, but was barred when he tried to come back in
for a short stay as a visitor.
British citizens are usually allowed into Hong Kong without a visa and are
permitted to stay for 180 days under immigration rules.
The government has given no explanation for the original refusal to extend
his visa but it is widely believed the decision was linked to Mallet’s
chairing of a talk by a Hong Kong independence activist at the city’s Foreign
Correspondents’ Club (FCC), where he is first vice president.
Security minister John Lee insisted Friday the decision to prevent Mallet
from entering as a tourist was “nothing to do with freedom of expression and
freedom of the press” adding he would not reveal the reasons due to “data
privacy” and the risk of “prejudice” to immigration policy.
The FCC said it was “shocked and baffled” and described the move as an
“aggravated and disproportionate sanction that seems completely unfounded”.
Authorities have turned away British nationals before — UK activist
Benedict Rogers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party’s human rights
commission, was blocked by immigration after landing for what he said was a
private trip in 2017.
Rogers called the barring of Mallet a “bizarre decision” for a global
financial hub.
Human Rights Watch warned the gathering crackdown on freedoms by Hong Kong
and Chinese authorities had led to “spreading censorship and self-
censorship”.
Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, protected by an
agreement made before the city was handed back by Britain to China in 1997,
but there is growing evidence those rights are being eroded.
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said barring Mallet was
“nothing less than an authoritarian attempt to censor all opposing voices”.
But pro-Beijing lawmaker Michael Tien told AFP: “You cannot take
everything for granted,” adding it was the government’s right to decide on
visas.
The Tai Kwun arts centre, a major new cultural hub in Hong Kong, pulled
talks by dissident author Ma on Thursday, with venue director Timothy Calnin
saying it did not want to become “a platform to promote the political
interests of any individual”.
The Hong Kong International Literary Festival has found another venue for
the event.
Ma, reported to be a Hong Kong permanent resident and British passport
holder, is due to land in the city on Friday afternoon and has expressed
concern he will also be refused entry.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1016 hrs