Hong Kong has refused to renew a work visa for the Asia news editor of the Financial Times, sparking concerns from the UK government.
Victor Mallet is also vice-president of the city’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC), which upset local and Chinese authorities by hosting a separatist speaker in August.
Hong Kong did not explain its visa decision.
China is highly sensitive about the territory’s sovereignty.
The former British colony was handed back in 1997 on condition it would retain “a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs” for 50 years.
China’s ire puts Hong Kong activist in spotlight
China operates a “one country, two system” agreement, with freedom of speech and press freedom among the key liberties that set Hong Kong apart from the mainland.
The UK Foreign Office says it has asked Hong Kong’s authorities for an “urgent explanation” of the visa rejection.
