Foreign Correspondents’ Club asks again for visa clarity

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club has again written to the Hong Kong government asking for clarification of the status of foreign reporters in the city after Beijing last month banned some journalists from working in the entire country – including the SAR, RTHK reports.

In March, the central government expelled around a dozen journalists from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post in retaliation against Washington imposing restrictions on employees of Chinese state media working in the US.

The club had then written to the Carrie Lam administration asking for clarification over whether foreign reporters working in the city would be affected by such decisions in future.

It had also asked if the expelled journalists would be allowed to visit, or work in the city, as such decisions are usually made by the immigration department in Hong Kong, under the One Country, Two Systems principle.

In a new statement, the club said while it has received a reply from the director of immigration, none of their concerns have been adequately addressed.

“We are seeking a clear and unequivocal assurance that the Hong Kong Immigration Department remains an independent body that will assess each case on its merits,” the club said.

“We are concerned that the immigration status of some journalists working in Hong Kong are being made are made by the central government, rather than Hong Kong immigration authorities,” it added.

In the reply sent to the club, the immigration chief had said his department will deal with “each case in accordance with law and immigration policy” and said the Hong Kong government has been facilitating reporters from foreign countries to work in the city.