Canada is pressing Beijing over media reports that Chinese authorities are no longer allowing some Canadian citizens born in Hong Kong to visit China on 10-year visas, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Chinese-language media say that since early June, first-generation Hong Kong-born Canadians are being told they can only apply to travel to China as Chinese nationals. Previously, they could choose to travel either as Canadian or as Chinese citizens.

If true, the changes could be seen as an encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong has been governed as a special administrative region since its return to China from British rule in 1997, a policy known as "one country, two systems."

"Canada is aware of recent reports of challenges for Canadian-Chinese dual citizens in obtaining visas to visit China from Hong Kong. We are looking into the issue and are following up with the Chinese authorities," said Felix Corriveau, a spokesman for Immigration Minister John McCallum.

The Chinese embassy in Ottawa has not received any notification of changes to the visa policy, a spokesman said in an emailed statement.

China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi publicly berated a Canadian journalist for asking about his country's human rights record during a press conference in Ottawa earlier this month. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

Not protected by Canada, says MP

Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan, who was born in Hong Kong, told reporters Tuesday the issue is Canadian citizens are not getting the protection of the Canadian embassy abroad.

"Without that passport you could run into problems, and who knows what kind of problems," said the New Democrat MP.

"If somehow you might run into an alleged conflict with the law issue, Canadian protection means a lot."

Kwan said this could potentially prevent thousands of Hong Kong-born Canadians from travelling and is concerned it might affect her son, though he was born in Canada.

Kwan said she herself was exempt because she's already travelled to China with a Canadian visa.

"The change in practice should be of grave concern to Canadians, after all, a Canadian is a Canadian. As such, should all Canadians not be treated the same?"

Kwan said she has written a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, asking him to investigate.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, due to visit China for a week in late August to boost trade ties, has previously said Beijing must do more to protect human rights.

Earlier this month, Canada complained to China about the behavior of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who publicly berated a Canadian journalist in Ottawa.