Refusal to renew the "Economist" reporter visa Lam Cheng claims to be within the scope of Hong Kong autonomy: I want the United States to refuse approval

The British "Economist" (Economist) reporter Sue-Lin Wong's work visa was refused renewal. The Immigration Department did not provide a reason.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today (16th) that the issuance of visas is within the autonomy of the SAR government. As the chief executive, the United States also refuses to grant visas. This is also the autonomy of the United States.

Lam Cheng emphasized that the Immigration Department decides whether to grant a visa after considering individual cases. The Hong Kong government does not comment on individual incidents.

Proud of Hong Kong as an overseas media hub

Lam Cheng also called Hong Kong as an international city and a central hub for overseas media. She was proud of this. She pointed out that many overseas media also use Hong Kong as a regional base. The Hong Kong government will continue to assist overseas media to operate in Hong Kong, emphasizing the need to abide by the laws of Hong Kong. Including the "Minato National Security Law."

When asked if he would promise to process visa applications for overseas journalists in a timely and transparent manner, Carrie Lam said that the promise has been written in the Basic Law, and that it would depend on actual figures. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had quoted data from the Hong Kong government yesterday. This proves how many overseas journalists the Hong Kong government has issued visas to prove that the Hong Kong government has continued to assist overseas media to operate in Hong Kong.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Zhao Lijian (picture of Zhao Lijian’s Twitter account)

Zhao Lijian said yesterday that after the implementation of the "Hong Kong National Security Law", the number of foreign news media and practitioners entering Hong Kong has increased unabated. As of April 2021, there are 628 foreign media in Hong Kong holding work visas. Compared with the same period last year There was an increase of 98 people, an increase of 18.5%. Taking the Economist as an example, the number of foreign employees in Hong Kong has increased by 22% in the past year.

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