HONG KONG (AP) — The Financial Times says Hong Kong's government has refused to renew the work visa of its Asia news editor, in what human rights activists say shows the human rights situation in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory is deteriorating.

The newspaper said in a statement Friday that it was given no reason why Victor Mallet's application was rejected. Mallet is vice president of Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club. It recently drew criticism from the authorities for hosting a talk by the leader of a now-banned pro-Hong Kong independence party.

Maya Wang, Human Rights Watch's senior China researcher, said in a statement that the rejection of Mallet's visa was "shocking and unprecedented" and showed growing intolerance for views unpopular with authorities.

Hong Kong officials could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.