It is reported that the Immigration Department has set up a new national security department to review sensitive visas and the FCC sends a letter to the director to request an explanation

Political situation

Written by: Liang Zijie

2020-08-12 17:15

Some reports quoted that the Immigration Department has established a new national security department to handle visa applications for foreign media journalists. The Hong Kong Foreign Press Conference (FCC) wrote a letter today (12th) to the Director of Immigration, Ou Jiahong, asking whether the visa application for foreign media reporters will introduce new procedures.

Request to clarify the application processing criteria and explain why the processing was delayed

The Hong Kong Foreign Press Association pointed out that the relevant changes have attracted the deep concern of many foreign media and reporters. It urgently urges the prescription to clarify whether a new national security department will be established to handle visa applications for foreign media reporters, and what criteria should be considered when processing prescriptions. Why the processing of visas for foreign media reporters was delayed, and prescriptions were required to ensure that the new procedures would not restrict reporters from reporting freely in the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The “English Standard” reported earlier that the Hong Kong Immigration Department has set up a new national security department to handle sensitive visa applications from foreign media and Taiwanese organizations, and is responsible for delays including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Visa renewal for foreign media organizations. Visa applications for foreign journalists must go through the new department established at the end of June, but the Immigration Department has never disclosed such a department in the past.

According to reports, the Immigration Department recently rejected or delayed the visas of many foreign media journalists for various technical reasons, including the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal’s journalists’ visa applications were all delayed. For example, when the editor first applied for a visa, there was no Mentioned that his duties include reporting the news, but when the authorities discovered that he had interviewed the demonstration site, his visa application would be rejected or delayed. The authorities will also request to check the MPF contribution records of the organization to confirm whether the reporter has been working in Hong Kong for a long time.

Hong Kong Foreign Press Conference (FCC). (Profile picture)

FCC: Recently, visa delays for foreign journalists in Hong Kong are extremely unusual

In July of this year, Chris Buckley, a senior reporter of The New York Times, was not granted a work permit visa in Hong Kong, which aroused public concern. The FCC pointed out that a number of local media recently informed that foreign journalists' visas or visa renewal delays were extremely unusual. The FCC has earlier urged the Hong Kong government to ensure that journalists can work in Hong Kong freely and without intimidation and hindrance. The Hong Kong government has not yet given a clear guarantee.

In his new post last month, Immigration Director Ou Jiahong stated that as a member of the National Security Council, he would lead the Immigration Department to shoulder the responsibility of guarding national security. However, he did not respond to whether the immigration inspection will be conducted in accordance with the national security. He only said that he would follow the current laws and policies. , Review each case and decide.

The FCC urges not to use reporter visas as weapons. The Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong: The cause lies with the US

[China-US Wrestling] "Circle Time" urges FCC not to use visas as a weapon against US journalists in Hong Kong

Huawei ZTE was included in the list of potential safety hazards and passed the FCC "5 to zero"

Concerned about Hong Kong system harm, Guoanmei FCC approves Google to use submarine cable connecting Taiwan

FCC's letter to Lam Cheng Ti and three questioning whether the expelled American journalist can enter Hong Kong

The HKIA urges clarification of the US media visa arrangements in Hong Kong to refute the FCC: forced to counteract legality and reasonableness

Beijing bans American media from working in Hong Kong FCC: If the visa system changes, it will seriously erode one country, two systems

Foreign Correspondents Conference (FCC) Immigration Department Hong Kong Version National Security Law