Evidence of meeting #103 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was kongers.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much.
Time is up at four minutes and 16 seconds.
Now we will go to Mr. El-Khoury.
Please, go ahead.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and welcome to our guests.
My first question is addressed to Mr. Wong.
Mr. Wong, could you briefly please tell the committee, after the handover in the late 1990s, what negative impacts there were on the citizens of Hong Kong?
How is your organization helping Hongkongers who are currently here in Canada and facing challenges from our immigration system?
11:55 a.m.
President, Canada-Hong Kong Link
After 1997, the situation in Hong Kong gradually deteriorated, especially since 2014, 10 years ago, when people were occupying the streets to demand democracy. Then the control got even worse. In 2019 the anti-extradition bill movement was the most important. The next year, in 2020, there was the national security law. In March of just this year, there was the new local legislation on national security.
All those laws are just dismantling the whole of civil society and not letting anyone speak out in Hong Kong. At Canada-Hong Kong Link we monitor the situation. We communicate with parliamentarians and also the government, with GAC, to raise our concerns. It's a good thing that now at least GAC will issue statements, at least, on Hong Kong's issues. We of course lobbied to get this lifeboat scheme, the Hong Kong pathway, back in 2020 and 2021.
We continue to monitor the situation. That's why we're here right now. It's to follow up on ways to help Hong Kongers come to Canada and really settle in Canada.
Thank you.
Noon
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you.
My second question is for you, Ms. Calverley.
Are Canada's measures to address this issue comparable to other countries' measures? Do you recommend that Canada look at the measures taken by other countries?
Noon
Co-Founder and Chair, Hong Kong Watch
I think you should learn from other countries, like the U.K. with its “5+1”, in the Canadian lifeboat scheme. People apply for a study permit. That has nothing to do with stream A or stream B. Only after they graduate do they apply for stream A. That is a completely separate scheme. For stream B, it's the same. People apply for an open work permit. When they fulfill the requirement, they apply for stream B.
All three schemes are different. That's why some people actually fall out of the system. I think it would be better to have one scheme for everyone to apply for stream A and stream B from Hong Kong. That would solve the problem. We also need to guarantee that when they fulfill all the requirements and stay in in Canada for two to three years to fulfill them, when they apply for PR they should get it within 6.5 months and not wait another 21 months or even longer.
Noon
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you. The time is 4 p.m., right on the clock.
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, you have two minutes. Please go ahead.
Noon
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Calverley, do you personally know anyone who has been harassed by agents of the Chinese regime here on Canadian soil?
Noon
Co-Founder and Chair, Hong Kong Watch
I can say that I'm one of them. Actually, there's someone outside my home watching me. I report to CSIS and the RCMP. Recently, because I advocate for over one thousand Hong Kongers, I got a threatening email written in Chinese. I reported that to the RCMP as well.
Despite the threat, I will continue to fight. I will continue to speak up for my fellow Hong Kongers.
Noon
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Wong, what are the consequences of the federal government's inaction? What are the fears or concerns of Hong Kong nationals on Canadian soil?
Noon
Co-Founder and Chair, Hong Kong Watch
I think it's very concerning, because a lot of Hong Kongers are afraid to even join a gathering or a rally or anything and speak up for freedom and democracy. We are in a free country. Hong Kongers should be feeling safe, but obviously they don't. That's why when they attend rallies they put their masks on, or they simply don't attend.
12:05 p.m.
Bloc
12:05 p.m.
President, Canada-Hong Kong Link
I totally agree with Ms. Calverley on this, because people who are still in a temporary status are afraid that they might need to go back to Hong Kong. Their status is not permanent. If their status were permanent, then perhaps they could stay in Canada. That would be better.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much, Mr. Wong and Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.
We'll go to Madam Kwan.
Madam Kwan, go ahead for two minutes, please.
12:05 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much.
On the mandatory provident fund, the fact is that when they prove that they're permanently leaving the territory and have no intention of returning, BNO visa holders are legally permitted to withdraw their savings once they provide proof that they have departed Hong Kong.
However, this is the situation: They can't access their pension funds. What do you think the Canadian government can do with respect to holding Canadian banking agencies accountable in following the law?
I'll start with Aileen, please, on this question, and then we'll go around.
12:05 p.m.
Co-Founder and Chair, Hong Kong Watch
Thank you.
I think the government really needs to put pressure on our financial institutions. It is a pure injustice. These people are PRs in Canada, but just because they have a BNO passport, they cannot access their funds. It is an outrageous injustice. For people in the U.K., the U.K. BNO visa is another scheme leading to citizenship, not only permanent residence. That should be proof of permanently leaving Hong Kong.
I want to add that for the change for the PR card, it should be “HKG” instead of “CHN”. That would be better. “HKG” means “Hong Kong”. Our colleague actually got the new PR card. She has a Hong Kong passport, so it's under HKG.
12:05 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
In terms of accountability from banking institutions, what measures do you think need to be taken, more specifically? They're violating the law, as far as I can understand. What authority do they have to withhold people's pension funds?
Maybe we'll try Andy and then Mabel on that question.
12:05 p.m.
President, Canada-Hong Kong Link
My understanding is that financial institutions operating in Hong Kong are in a situation whereby they're asked to comply with two sets of laws: one in Hong Kong and one in Canada.
12:05 p.m.
President, Canada-Hong Kong Link
The problem is whether the Canadian banking institutions are actually standing for Canadian values. That is the question that needs to be asked.
Thank you.
12:05 p.m.
Chair, Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement
I think whatever the situation is in Hong Kong, it can't be controlled by our government, but inside Canada I think our government should put more pressure on our banking industry to respect our Canadian values and make sure that Hong Kongers are able to access those funds.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you.
On behalf of the committee members, I want to thank Mr. Wong, Madam Calverley and Madam Tung for being here with us and sharing their thoughts.
Thank you. We'll suspend for five minutes for the second panel.