Chinese author Ma in Hong Kong for literary festival
141 views · Published 14 November 2018 · 1:47 · Indexed 9 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(9 Nov 2018) Chinese dissident author Ma Jian was allowed entry to Hong Kong on Friday to attend a literary festival following recent concerns over Beijing encroaching on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's civil liberties. On Friday, Hong Kong's immigration authorities permitted Ma Jian to enter to attend a literary festival, even after an arts venue in the city had cancelled his appearance. Soon after his arrival, festival organizers tweeted that the venue had reversed its position and would allow him to speak. Ma Jian is now scheduled to make two appearances on Saturday at a recently-renovated historical building complex in Hong Kong, called "Tai Kwun". Ma, whose novels frequently satirize China's communist leaders, told reporters at Hong Kong airport he had experienced nothing unusual while passing through passport control. "The lecture will definitely happen. As long as there is a single person in Hong Kong who is willing to hear me, or a single reader who contacts me, I will be there," Ma said. Ma speculated there was a "stronger force" behind the authorities controlling the conditions under which he could appear, but vowed to "find a way to meet with Hong Kong readers." Ma arrived a day after the Asia editor of the Financial Times was refused entry to Hong Kong, weeks after he was denied a new work visa. The newspaper reported that Victor Mallet was turned away at the border on Thursday after being questioned for several hours. He had sought to enter as a visitor. Mallet's visa rejection in October came shortly after he hosted a talk at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club by the head of a now-banned political party advocating the financial hub's independence from China. The denial of a visa to Mallet had been widely condemned by journalists, human rights and civic society groups in Hong Kong, who saw it as a sign of China's growing encroachment on freedom of speech in the city. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/ef1fec7ca0cf50da73f55eff6e1156a3
