Hong Kong has refused to renew a work visa for the Asia news editor of the Financial Times, who is also an official of the city's Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC).
The news comes two months after government officials in China and Hong Kong condemned the FCC, one of Asia's leading press clubs, for hosting a speech by an independence activist, reigniting debate about the viability of the city's promised freedoms.
"This is the first time we have encountered this situation in Hong Kong. We have not been given a reason for the rejection," the newspaper said in a statement.
Mallet, who , did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Hong Kong's immigration department said it did not comment on specific cases.
In August, Mallet, who is the FCC's vice-president and was acting president at the time, hosted a speech by pro-independence activist Andy Chan in a move strongly condemned by China's Foreign Ministry.
The ministry had urged the FCC to withdraw its invitation to Chan, a founder of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, which was formally banned by Hong Kong authorities last month.
Authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have said the notion of independence is inconsistent with the principle of "one country, two systems" under which the territory has been governed since Britain handed it back to China in 1997.
The principle promises Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed elsewhere in China.
Mallet said in August the FCC neither endorsed nor opposed the diverse views of its speakers, fully respected the law and championed free speech and freedom.
The FCC said it was expecting a full explanation from the Hong Kong authorities.
"In the absence of any reasonable explanation, the FCC calls on the Hong Kong authorities to rescind their decision," the club said in a statement late on Friday, describing the move as "extremely rare, if not unprecedented".
Reporters Without Borders called on Hong Kong authorities to reverse their decision.
In a statement, New York-based Human Rights Watch said the visa rejection, together with the unprecedented banning of the Hong Kong National Party, showed a quickening downward spiral for human rights in Hong Kong.
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