Hong Kong Denies Work Visa to AP Photojournalist Louise Delmotte
The Hong Kong authorities have denied a work visa to Associated Press photojournalist Louise Delmotte, prompting calls from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for her visa renewal and for…
The Hong Kong authorities have denied a work visa to Associated Press photojournalist Louise Delmotte, prompting calls from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for her visa renewal and for greater press freedom in the city.On September 14, 2024, Delmotte was denied entry into Hong Kong after her visa extension application was rejected earlier this year. Despite arriving as a tourist, she was repatriated back to France. The Hong Kong Immigration Department has not provided any official reason for the refusal, according to media reports.Delmotte’s denied visa follows her work covering high-profile cases, including the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. In August 2023, her photographs of Lai in solitary confinement at Stanley prison were published by the Associated Press. Lai is currently facing life imprisonment on charges of conspiracy and collusion under the Beijing-imposed national security law.The CPJ condemned the decision, with Iris Hsu, CPJ’s China representative, stating, “Denying Louise Delmotte’s entry is a petty act of retaliation against her journalistic work. This pattern of denying journalists entry has become a way for government authorities to pressure and harass the media.”The Hong Kong Immigration Department has not responded to CPJ’s request for comment. However, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, when asked about Delmotte’s case, defended the decision, stating that immigration authorities were acting in accordance with jurisdictional laws and policies.The Associated Press expressed its disappointment, stating, “Louise Delmotte is a talented journalist, and we are proud of the important work she has done in Hong Kong for The Associated Press.” The AP continues to maintain a presence in Hong Kong and is working with Delmotte on next steps.China remains one of the largest jailers of journalists globally, with at least 44 journalists imprisoned as of December 1, 2023, according to CPJ’s most recent annual prison census.
