Mr. Chair, thanks for the invitation.
I am Albert Chan. I'm a Canadian resident living in Vancouver now. Before I returned to Canada in 2017, I was an elected politician in Hong Kong for 31 years.
I was the founding member of many political parties and was seen as one of the most radical politicians in Hong Kong. I have been arrested, indicted and convicted of political charges, and experienced first-hand police brutality.
My last indictment was in 2014 for burning the Chinese government's white paper on Hong Kong. I was charged together with Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Raphael Wong, all three of whom you will recognize as distinguished and able young leaders in Hong Kong. Joshua is now in prison. Nathan is in exile and Raphael is pending trial on bail.
My last arrest was in 2016, together with Martin Lee and Jimmy Lai, for taking part in the Occupy Central protests.
In my years of political involvement, I have seen the deterioration of the rule of law, human rights and civic liberty in Hong Kong. With Xi Jinping's “thought” incorporated into the Chinese Constitution in 2018, the situation in Hong Kong has become worse and worse. Hong Kong is now, effectively, ruled under state terrorism, and many political activists have been arrested and charged arbitrarily. With the promulgation of the Hong Kong national security law, the government has, effectively, legitimized tyranny against all citizens of conscience. The situation in Hong Kong seems to repeat what happened in Shanghai in 1951 or in Nazi Germany in the mid-1930s.
There are three main areas of action that we can and should take.
First, the Canadian government should invoke the Magnitsky act to sanction all those people who have committed crimes against humanity. Many Chinese and Hong Kong officials have close connections to Canada. Economic sanction against these individuals can be effective and meaningful.
Second, there are 300,000 Canadians living in Hong Kong, and their rights, welfare and lives are now in jeopardy. The Canadian government should formulate a coherent plan to protect their rights and interests, and to rescue them when the situation arises.
Third, many Hong Kong people are fleeing, and Canada is their preferred destination. Unfortunately, the pandemic restricts their entry, and the Chinese government's control and intervention further prevent many from coming here. I call upon the Canadian government to expedite policies and procedures to facilitate those who want to come.
I'm sorry to point out that the Canadian government has done little in the past few years to address the problems in Hong Kong and to repel Communist China's influence. I am afraid that China has installed a very successful united front to infiltrate Canadian society and governments.
Clive Hamilton has conducted a comprehensive study of China's United Front work in Australia. Silent Invasion is deeply entrenched in all social, economic and political fabrics of that country, and effectively sways government decisions. I believe the situation in Canada is no better, if not worse. The silent hand may have reached deeply into our daily lives.
Canada is well known for its stand on humanitarianism. During the Second World War almost 2,000 Canadian soldiers sailed to Hong Kong to help with her defence, and more than 550 would never return. Hong Kong is again now facing the most serious humanitarian crisis in history. The Canadian government has no excuse to not take immediate action and change its past misdirected path. We do not want our Prime Minister to become yet another modern-day Neville Chamberlain.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.