<span style="color: #222222;">Britain has expressed concern over freedom of speech in its former colony Hong Kong after authorities refused to renew the work visa of a senior editor of the Financial Times. A statement dated Friday said Britain has asked for an explanation as to why Victor Mallet's visa renewal application was rejected. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Rights groups have called the visa rejection the latest sign of Beijing's expanding restrictions on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. The London-based Financial Times said in a statement that it was given no reason why Asia editor Mallet's application was rejected.</span><br />