'Expulsion Of Reporters A Reciprocal Arrangement'

Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Edward Yau said on Friday that the expulsion of 13 American journalists and barring them from working in Hong Kong was "a reciprocal arrangement as announced by the foreign ministry".

He was responding to questions about an order by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expelling the US journalists from The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post from the mainland and also banning them working in Hong Kong and Macau.

Beijing's move has been described by opposition parties and journalists' organisations as a "blatant breach" of Hong Kong's autonomy.

Asked what action the Hong Kong government will take in response to the ministry's order, Yau avoided giving a direct response.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had made a public statement that the arrangement was a reciprocal arrangement in response to US' unfair treatment of certain Chinese media in the US," he said.

"As far as Hong Kong is concerned, the Basic Law does provide protection for the freedom of press. We always welcome international journalists to work in Hong Kong in strict accordance with the Basic Law," he said.