A representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has been denied entry to Hong Kong, the French free expression NGO has said, after she was detained, searched and questioned for six hours at the airport on Wednesday.

“This action by the Hong Kong authorities, unprecedented for RSF, marks a new decline in the already poor press freedom climate in the territory,” it said in a statement following the incident.

Taipei-based Advocacy Officer Aleksandra Bielakowska was searched three times, and questioned by immigration officials, for six hours at the city’s international airport, it said. She was then deported.

It is the first time an RSF staffer has been denied entry to the territory.

Press freedom rankings

Hong Kong has plummeted in international press freedom indices since the onset of the security law. Watchdogs cite the arrest of journalists, raids on newsrooms and the closure of around 10 media outlets including Apple Daily, Stand News and Citizen News. Over 1,000 journalists have lost their jobs, whilst many have emigrated. Meanwhile, the city’s government-funded broadcaster RTHK has adopted new editorial guidelines, purged its archives and axed news and satirical shows.

See also: Explainer: Hong Kong’s press freedom under the national security law

In 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said press freedom was “in the pocket” of Hongkongers but “nobody is above the law.” Although he has told the press to “tell a good Hong Kong story,” government departments have been reluctant to respond to story pitches.