特區政府至今未就拒絕向任職《金融時報》的馬凱續發工作簽證一事作出解釋,特首林鄭月娥堅持有關出入境政策,按國際慣例一般不會公開。《金融時報》今天回覆《蘋果》查詢馬凱會否提出上訴時表明,由於香港當局沒有提供解釋,回應為何馬凱不獲續發工作簽證,《金融時報》即將就此事提出上訴,有關上訴將會直接向香港入境處提出(In the absence of an explanation from the Hong Kong authorities, the FT is appealing the recent rejection of a renewed work visa for Victor Mallet. The FT is appealing the visa rejection to the HK Immigration Department)
大律師公會憲制及人權事務委員會主席布穎琪今日則在《南華早報》撰文,指現時未有一個解釋拒絕續批簽證給馬凱的原因,令人信服的推論是因為馬凱早前以外國記者會的身份,籌辦香港民族黨召集人陳浩天的演講。但文章指演講發生在保安局局長取締民族黨之前,而相關決定被質疑是否合法和與《基本法》保障人權的條文相符,保安局局長至今也沒有提供任何民族黨會使用暴力的理據:「如果取締民族黨本身是不合法,那麼拒逐馬凱便會加倍荒謬。(If the ban itself is unlawful, it renders the eviction of Mallet doubly absurd.)」
【歐盟聲明全文】
The decision by the Hong Kong authorities to refuse to renew the working visa of the Financial Times' Asia news editor, Victor Mallet, sets a worrying precedent. In the absence of a credible alternative explanation from the authorities, the decision appears politically motivated and therefore raises serious concerns about freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Hong Kong. It risks damaging Hong Kong's international standing and trust in the Journalists must be allowed to perform their work independently and without interference.