Backlash after reporter denied entry to HK

HONG KONG: Rights campaigners have launched a blistering backlash in Hong Kong after a senior Financial Times (FT) journalist was denied entry to the semi-autonomous city, decrying another blow to freedoms under an assertive China.

The refusal by immigration officials to let in the FT’s Asia news editor Victor Mallet on Thursday came hours after an arts centre hosting the city’s high-profile literary festival cancelled appearances by exiled Chinese writer Ma Jian.

Amnesty International said it was a “distressing signal” about the state of press freedom in Hong Kong and smacked of “retaliation” against Mallet.

The veteran journalist had his work visa renewal denied last month and had left Hong Kong, but was barred when he tried to come back in for a short stay as a visitor.

British citizens are usually allowed into Hong Kong without a visa and are permitted to stay for 180 days under immigration rules.

The government has given no explanation for the original refusal to extend his visa, but it is widely believed that the decision was linked to Mallet’s chairing of a talk by a Hong Kong independence activist at the city’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club, where he is first vice-president. — AFP MELBOURNE: Australian surgeons have successfully separated 15-month-old Bhutanese twins, Nima and Dawa, who had been joined at the torso. The team of more than 20 doctors and nurses spent six hours yesterday operating on the pair, who shared a liver but no other major organs. ” We didn’t find surprises,” said Joe Crameri, who led the surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Nima, Dawa and their mother Bhumchu Zangmo arrived in Australia a month ago with the help of an Australian charity. — AFP