hong kong hong kong leader deny friday china take immigration control city british activist refuse entry rule bar even last colonial governor frequent china critic chris patten chief executive carrie lam defend hong kong autonomy amid deepen question chinese-ruled financial hub reputation free international city conservative party right activist benedict rogers bar enter wednesday ask radio talk show whether patten criticize perceive chinese interference hong kong affairs would next bar lam stop short rule exclude possibilities immigration matter change depend case tell public broadcaster rthk patten speak extensively recent hong kong visit critical jail several democracy activists anger pro-beijing establishment britain hand hong kong back chinese rule 1997 amid promise widespread freedoms autonomy would respect one country two systems formula china foreign ministry say right allow refuse persons want enter hong kong response rogers case matter state sovereignty promise autonomy enshrine mini-constitution know basic law create separate hong kong legal police regime include immigration control china sovereign control defense foreign affairs critics fear beijing exploit erode city freedoms want clarify worry ... whole matter immigration take central people government certainly definitely case lam say case regard treat fall constitute foreign affairs matter patten immediately respond reuters request comment china lodge diplomatic complaint london british foreign secretary boris johnson demand urgent explanation hong kong china rogers expulsion case also spark outcry city pro-democracy activists include former number two official anson chan say beijing use case send message local english newspaper standard write editorial friday situation allow evolve state whoever dislike bar could moment begin lose international appeal .the u.s. consulate hong kong also express concern urge china respect hong kong high degree autonomy consistent principle one country two systems u.s. consulate spokeswoman kristin haworth tell reuters chinese embassy london email reply reuters late thursday respond directly rogers allegation warn middleman could refuse entry hong kong matter chinese sovereignty whether allow entry foreigners say echo foreign ministry hong kong leader ca n't rule bar even former governor patten china flex muscle