Hong Kong Journalists Caught in the Middle of Escalating US-China Conflict

Reporters only need a regular business visa to work in Hong Kong, however.

China promised key liberties and autonomy to Hong Kong ahead of Britain's handover, and the city has free press protections enshrined in law, something that has helped it become a regional media hub.

Read also: UK Citizenship Path Available to Hong Kongers in 2021

The New York Times, AFP, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and the Financial Times are among multiple media organizations with regional headquarters there.

But multiple news outlets are now reporting issues getting or renewing visas for staff — something they have not experienced before.

Last month the New York Times was the first to go public with its difficulties, announcing it would relocate some of its Asia hub to South Korea after multiple delays and at least one outright rejection.

The difficulties come as Washington and Beijing clash over reporter credentials.

The Trump administration placed visa and headcount restrictions on some Chinese media in the US, all of whom are state-controlled.

Beijing responded with tit-for-tat restrictions, including expelling a group of reporters from multiple US outlets who were also banned from working in Hong Kong, an unprecedented move.

On Tuesday Beijing's foreign ministry warned "necessary and timely countermeasures" would be taken if the US continued to limit Chinese reporters.