It is a usual practice of immigration authorities worldwide not to comment on individual cases, and visa renewal is a sovereign right that no other governments are allowed to interfere in.

The decision by the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region not to renew the work visa of an Asia news editor at the Financial Times in the region caused groundless accusations from some foreign governments, the latest attempt to undermine the principle of “one country, two systems” and attack the central and SAR governments.

Hong Kong's Immigration Department rejects countless visa renewal applications for various reasons every year, and dwelling on the visa problem of one foreign journalist in the city is nothing but making a mountain out of a molehill.

President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that “one country, two systems” will be implemented without any distortion. Thus the commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong has resolutely voiced his support to the SAR authorities for duly exercising their power over immigration affairs vested in them by the Basic Law.

The news media in Hong Kong, local or foreign, is operating as freely as before and nobody’s voice, as long as it remains within the boundaries of the law, is stifled.

The SAR is maintaining its unique system as enshrined in the Basic Law while moving forward together with the country in various aspects.