CHIEF Executive (CE) of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said yesterday that entry and exit issues are matters within HKSAR’s autonomy under “one country, two systems.”

Lam made the remarks ahead of an executive council meeting yesterday morning when responding to reporters’ questions about the decision of the HKSAR Government’s Immigration Department not to renew Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet’s work visa.

Lam said that the Director of Immigration will act in accordance with the law and the policy and the circumstances concerning that particular case.

As a rule, be it local or international, the HKSAR Government never discloses the circumstances of each case or the considerations of the decision, adding that decisions made on every entry and exit case comply with the law, she added.

Lam noted freedom of expression and freedom of reporting are core values in Hong Kong and that as chief executive, she and the HKSAR Government will safeguard the rights as enshrined in the Basic Law.

She reiterated that the HKSAR Government will not tolerate any act advocating “Hong Kong Independence,” and endangering national security and territorial integrity.

Chief Secretary of the HKSAR Government Matthew Cheung said Monday evening that the Immigration Department follows a clear procedure in handling work visa applications and makes the decision on whether to grant a work visa to an applicant in accordance with Hong Kong’s laws and policies.  (Xinhua)