The Asia editor of the Financial Times has been refused entry to Hong Kong, weeks after he was denied a new work visa in what critics call an ominous sign of Beijing encroaching on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's civil liberties.
The newspaper reported that Victor Mallet was turned away at the border on Thursday after being questioned for several hours. He had sought to enter as a visitor.
Mallet's visa rejection in October came shortly after he hosted a talk at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club by the head of a now-banned political party advocating the financial hub's independence from China.
That brought heated criticism from the territory's pro-China elites, some of whom called for the journalists' organisation to be kicked out of its clubhouse in the central financial district.
Hong Kong's immigration authority has given no explanation for his expulsion and on Friday responded with a statement saying it would "act in accordance with the laws and policies and decide whether the entry will be allowed or refused after careful consideration of the circumstances of each case."
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