Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 17th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Ms. Siu, but your time is up. We will now move on to the next speaker. You will have an opportunity to talk about it in the round of questioning.

We will now have Mr. Nathan Law.

Mr. Law, you have five minutes for your opening remarks.

[Nathan Law, Hong Kong Activist, Former Legislator, As an Individual]

Madam Chair and other members of the committee, bonjour.

I'm Nathan Law, a Hong Kong activist who was forced into exile under Beijing's tightening [Technical difficulty—Editor]. Thank you for having me today to give my testimony on the ongoing deterioration in Hong Kong.

As a young activist, I was a student leader of the umbrella movement in 2014, democratically elected as the youngest legislative member, before being unseated under Beijing's intervention.

Later, for my participation in peaceful protests, I was thrown into jail. But now, due to the threat of the national security law, I left the city. The police force has now put my name on the wanted list under this law. While 2021 might be a better year for many of us, it is not the case for the people living in this city under Beijing's tightening control.

Under the draconian national security law, the rule of law and liberty decay. Fifty-five democratic figures were charged with secession just because they took part in a primary election to exercise their constitutional rights. Beijing lawyers are also calling for surveillance cameras to monitor speeches in classrooms. Recently, the Hong Kong government rolled out real-name registration for mobile phones, because it wants to monitor every call. These strategies suggest that Hong Kong is turning into an ordinary mainland city.

Hong Kong needs help from around the world. Values of freedom and democracy are being demolished. Freedom-loving people in Hong Kong are facing white terror on a daily basis. Whoever gives testimony at hearings, talks about the worsening situation in Hong Kong or expresses critical views on Beijing in interviews can face charges under the security law. Their bank accounts can be frozen and their family members are intimidated or even interrogated.

To protect my family, I had to publicly sever my ties with my parents and relatives who are still in Hong Kong. As there are cases where Hong Kong activists have been brutally beaten by CCP-affiliated agents, I have to live in solitude and avoid public appearances during my exile, not to mention that many other asylum seekers lack financial and social supports. All of this shows that we are living in an era where authoritarian power can stretch beyond its border.

In these times of political turmoil, Hong Kongers owe their gratitude to Canada's recent lifeboat scheme, which opens new pathways to residency for Hong Kong people who have certain qualifications. This is an indication that the free world can work together to stand up against tyranny and for this once autonomous city. We all need to do more before it's too late, before authoritarianism wins over democracy.

At the same time, when Beijing criminalized rallies and punished dissidents, the existing arrangement might bring a disadvantage to those with politically indicted charges. According to what Ms. Siu just said, even though Canada promises that asylum claims will not be affected by national security law charges, the majority of protesters—over 10,000 of them—were arrested under non-national security law charges. The current policy may block their pathway to freedom. To demonstrate support to those under political suppression, Canada should state very clearly that protest-related criminal records will be exempt.

Besides, to deliver more targeted measures that serve Hong Kong people's interests, Canada could work with human rights groups to enhance security checks and screen out applicants having ties with the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong police force. It becomes even more urgent when China's Operation Fox Hunt is reportedly targeting Canada's Chinese community.

We should take measures to ensure that Canada is a safe haven in real terms. At a time when democracies worldwide [Inaudible—Editor] Canada can take the lead to rebuild democracy.

Thank you so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Law.

We will now begin our round of questioning. We will end this first panel at 6:45, and then have the second panel from 6:45 until 7:30. Based on the time for this panel, every member will have four minutes for their round of questioning.

We will start with Mr. Hallan.

Mr. Hallan, you have four minutes for your round of questioning.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to all the witnesses for their courage to share their testimony.

I'll just get right into it.

Mr. Law, there are recent reports in Canada about the visa application centres that are now being operated in Beijing by a company that's owned by the Chinese police. It's the same police you talked about who literally threw you into jail. Given the circumstances of all of that, these are the same people who are going to be making decisions.

Given your history and what you've been through, what does that mean to you and other people like you?

[Nathan Law]

Thank you for the questions.

I think it's extremely worrying that the information of the visa applicants or even people who are in contact with others concerning political suppression will be in the hands of Beijing. We understand that when Beijing wants information from the company registered in China, they could get it. There is no concept of private information for these companies, because in a one-party dictatorship the Chinese Communist Party could get whatever it wants. They have a lot of tools to get the information they want, including blackmailing or colluding with them or just providing financial incentives.

This is a very worrying situation. The Canadian government should take prompt measures to ensure that the information of people who are facing political suppression will not fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, resulting in secondary harm to them.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you so much, Mr. Law.

Ms. Siu, I understand that you personally went through the same police brutality. You've seen this violence first-hand. I want to get a little bit of background information from you.

What sorts of people were with you when you were protesting at the time? What kinds of backgrounds...or what was the reason the other people were doing it with you?

[Joey Siu]

Thank you, sir, for the question.

When I was in Hong Kong participating in the protests and assemblies, there were people from all sorts of backgrounds protesting together with me. For example, we had students from universities, from secondary schools or even very young kids from primary schools. We also had the elderly who were coming to the streets with their grandchildren. We had a lot of different people from different professional backgrounds and from different industries in Hong Kong.

We can see that the pro-democracy struggle in Hong Kong is actually a product of all Hong Kong people from different backgrounds, races and industries.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you.

Given that information, if this company that's run by the Chinese police were running the visa application centres back when you were trying to leave, do you feel that is something that would have been really bad for you ? Would that have stopped them from letting you leave?

[Joey Siu]

I think that is definitely one of the ways the Chinese government tries to collect data and information regarding which of the protesters or activists are trying to leave Hong Kong or to escape from the tyranny in mainland China.

Also, it does hinder people from applying for a visa to come to Canada. When we know that the visa centres are actually contracted to Chinese companies that are very closely related to the Chinese government, I believe that a lot of activists, protesters or even random everyday citizens in China would be afraid to apply because that would mean their information would be collected by the Chinese Communist Party. That also means that the Chinese Communist Party would be aware that they are planning to leave the country. That is a very dangerous—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Ms. Siu. Your time is up.

We will now move on to Mr. Regan.

Mr. Regan, you have four minutes for your round of questioning.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I, too, want to thank the witnesses for appearing and for their courage.

My first double question is for Ms. Tung and Ms. Siu. I think it may allow you to finish your opening comments, as a matter of fact.

In relation to the program parameters that the government has created, are there aspects of the measures introduced by the government that you believe should be expanded? What criteria have helped? What do you think can be defined in a more open way?

I'll start with Ms. Tung and then go to Ms. Siu, please.

[Mabel Tung]

The open permit is pretty good for a lot of students, but we still have to consider that most students haven't finished university. We should also allow students with 60 university credits to apply for the open work permit. The current open work permit scheme allows graduates of recognized two-year diploma programs within the last five years to apply. However, many of those on four-year university programs have to complete their four-year program to apply.

Many currently enrolled university students who have participated in the recent protests and demonstrations are subject to police brutality. Many of them are awaiting trial. We recommend allowing current university students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits—which is equal to two years of study—to apply for open work permits.

Second, they should be eligible for the work permit for up to 10 years after graduation, instead of just five years. The reason is that the fight to preserve freedom and democracy in Hong Kong began in 2014, when hundreds of thousands marched in the streets. Those protestors finished university over five years ago now. In order to protect them and enable them to come to Canada, eligibility should be extended to up to 10 years instead of the five years.

Another reason is that right now they may have a lot of work experience and are also self-sufficient and able to contribute to Canadian society. That's why we're recommending that the eligibility be 10 years.

Thank you.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you.

Ms. Siu.

[Joey Siu]

Thank you, Ms. Tung, for those recommendations.

On top of that, we have also made a recommendation encouraging the Canadian government to extend the current youth working holiday visa from one year to two years and also to expand the age group from 18 years to 30 years to 18 years to 35 years, bringing this in line with Australia's working holiday scheme. That would ensure that Hong Kongers, even without post-secondary education qualifications, would also be given the opportunity to apply eventually for permanent resident status in Canada. That would be very helpful.

As I have just mentioned, the protesters in Hong Kong are from all sorts of backgrounds. Especially, there are a lot of very young protesters who are still in secondary school and without a post-secondary education. It would definitely be very helpful for us to expand the open work permit or the coverage of the young talents scheme to also take care of these very young protesters from Hong Kong.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you very much.

I'll turn to Mr. Law now. Do you believe residents of Hong Kong have access to the Canadian asylum system, and how do you think the government can expand access?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry, Mr. Regan. Your time is up.

We will now move on to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

You have four minutes for your round of questioning.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My sincere thanks to the three witnesses this evening.

You have talked a lot about courage, and you are showing it yourselves. I won't say any more about it, because we don't have a lot of time.

Ms. Siu, you spoke earlier about Canada's courage in stating its position on Hong Kong, despite the situation of the two Michaels, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. There is currently a movement in Canada, in Quebec and around the world calling for a boycott or a relocation of the Beijing Olympics if the genocide of the Uighurs and other Turkic peoples continues in Xinjiang.

What impact could a movement of that kind have on the current situation in Hong Kong?

Ms. Siu can answer first, followed by the other two witnesses.

[Joey Siu]

It is very important for us to recognize and acknowledge what the Chinese Communist Party has been committing in the region of East Turkestan, commonly known as the [Technical difficulty—Editor] of Xinjiang, because what they have been doing has been recognized by the U.S. government as an ethnic genocide. It is time for Canada and other like-minded partners to also acknowledge this fact and make that official recognition.

It is also important for us to boycott the things that a genocidal country has been doing—for example, the Winter Olympics in 2022. Definitely, one of the most significant things we could do would be to boycott Beijing. It would also give a very strong signal to Beijing that it cannot continue with this behaviour and with disrespecting the international rule-based order.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I would also like to hear what Ms. Tung has to say about it.

[Mabel Tung]

I think we need to make sure we act fast, because right now a lot of things are going on in Hong Kong. Every day there's a new arrest, and the young people in Hong Kong are certainly facing a lot of uncertainty. They really need to leave Hong Kong as soon as possible.

I urge the members on the committee to consider all the recommendations on that.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Law, a movement is currently underway advocating a boycot of the Beijing Olympic Games. What impact could that have on the situation in Hong Kong?

[Nathan Law]

I think it's important that we show strong opposition to the genocidal acts that Beijing has been committing. Boycotting the Winter Olympics 2022 is a very important gesture.

I think first we need to consult with athletes to find a solution to balance it. We could ask for a relocation of the hosting of the Winter Olympics and then see whether we could proceed from that point. I believe that the opinions of the athletes are very valuable for us to make a decision on this, but in general I think we need to take a very strong stance on this issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

You have 10 seconds.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you for being with us this evening. You have provided great testimony and shown your courage.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Before we go to Ms. Kwan, may I please request, Ms. Tung, when you are speaking, to bring the microphone a bit closer to your mouth? They are having some interpretation issues.

Now we will go on to Ms. Kwan.

Ms. Kwan, you have four minutes for your round of questioning.