Citizenship and Immigration committee  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 th

Citizenship and Immigration committee  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

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you. I thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. The Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement, or VSSDM, was founded in June 1989 after the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre. The organization works to advocate for and advance democracy, freedom and h

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay. Should I continue?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Ever since Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 its people have strived to protect their way of life and their system of government. In July 2020, China imposed a sweeping national security law, stripping the city of any remnants of autonomy, civil and social freedom. Tens

Canada-China Relations committee  They had a special visa in the past; we're talking about 30 years ago. They had a special visa that was issued by the embassies of a lot of countries, which was granted to past protesters so they could leave. Of course, I'm not going to discuss in public the kinds of details of t

Canada-China Relations committee  Yes. A lot of times, people talk to me during our rallies. We've had over 20 rallies in the last two years. They will say, “I'm sorry, but I can't come next time. This is my last time, because I have family in Hong Kong and a grandmother in China and I don't want them to be intim

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you.

Canada-China Relations committee  We have connections around the world, especially after last year. We have 36 cities around the world with the same goal, to protect democracy and the democratic movement in Hong Kong. All of us feel connected. Every year, on June 4, we will have candlelight vigils around the worl

Canada-China Relations committee  Thank you.

Canada-China Relations committee  We've done it in the past. Right after the June 4 massacre, not just Canadians but those in other countries around the world helped dissidents from China to leave China and leave Hong Kong, through Hong Kong mostly. They provided essential resources for them to travel and leave

Canada-China Relations committee  I also want to add that a lot of Canadians of Hong Kong descent would love to help. We have a lot of capacity here. We have a lot of volunteers who are able to help them when they arrive.

Canada-China Relations committee  Our government should help the international students from Hong Kong, especially because some of them have already put a lot of effort into helping Hong Kong and they certainly will be charged under the national security law when they go back to Hong Kong.

Canada-China Relations committee  The Chinese government is very controlling. It controls everything. From the very beginning, in childhood—I'm talking about the mainland Chinese in China—they are kind of brainwashed. They have to praise their leaders on and on, and they have to follow the instructions, so from t

Canada-China Relations committee  Hong Kong is the only city that is still able to remember those children who died in the Tiananmen Square massacre, and it is the only prominent city with lots of candles lit on June 4, although every year the number is diminished. That's why Vancouver, with one of the largest po