25 Canadian Parliamentarians call on the Foreign Affairs Minister to urge China to return the 12 Hong Kong youths detained for over eighty days in Shenzhen

Updated 17/11/2020

Today a cross-party group of 25 Canadian parliamentarians have published an open letter to the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, calling for him to raise the case of the 12 Hong Kong youths detained for over eighty days in Shenzhen with Chinese officials and urge their return to Hong Kong.

Canadian parliamentarians in the letter have described the detention the 12 Hong Kong youths as ‘a watershed case for Hong Kong, which will influence whether the extradition of pro-democracy activists to stand trial in the mainland becomes a common occurrence’ and ‘the latest example of the Chinese Government’s increased use of ‘hostage diplomacy’’.

The letter goes on to urge the Foreign Affairs Minister to ‘call on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and your counterpart in Beijing to immediately ensure the return of the twelve activists to Hong Kong, to guarantee that they have legal representation of their choosing, contact with their families, and to ensure the young people access to necessary prescribed medication.’

Background: save 12 Hong Kong Youths campaign

This letter is part of a coordinated global campaign organised by Hong Kong Watch and the Hong Kong activist Joey Siu to encourage like minded governments to campaign for the release of the 12 Hong Kong youths.  This has included global rallies being held in London, New York, San Francisco, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Taipei, as well as in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy in support of the 12 and a social media campaign which has been supported by prominent activists in exile Nathan Law and Ray Wong, the artist Badiucao, prominent activist Joshua Wong, and the climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

On 22nd October, 63 UK parliamentarians signed a similar letter to the UK Foreign Secretary calling on the UK Government to intercede in the case of the 12 Hong Kong youths and to ensure that the detained activists with BNO passports are able to access UK consular services.

Other initiatives are currently taking place in the US Congress, EU Parliament, and amongst other international parliamentarians to urge their respective governments to call for the return of the 12 youths to Hong Kong.

For further information: https://www.hongkongwatch.org/save12hkyouths

The full letter:

‘Dear Foreign Affairs Minister,

We are writing to ask that you urgently make the ongoing detention of twelve young Hong Kong activists in Shenzhen a diplomatic priority alongside continued efforts to release Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

The twelve Hong Kong youths detained in Shenzhen is a watershed case for Hong Kong, which will influence whether the extradition of pro-democracy activists to stand trial in the mainland becomes a common occurrence.

If the Chinese authorities are allowed to prosecute and imprison Hong Kong activists in the mainland with little outcry or response from the international community, Beijing will take this as a signal that it can use the National Security Law as a pretext to extradite other Hong Kong activists to stand trial. Once in the mainland, the presumption of guilt and a lengthy prison sentence is all but guaranteed.

The chilling effect of this trend would be profound. Extradition hanging over the heads of young Hong Kongers coupled with the National Security Law would be the death knell of free expression.  

In view of this, we ask that you call on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and your counterpart in Beijing to immediately ensure the return of the twelve activists to Hong Kong, to guarantee that they have legal representation of their choosing, contact with their families, and to ensure the young people access to necessary prescribed medication.

The case of the twelve is the latest example of the Chinese Government’s increased use of ‘hostage diplomacy’, alongside the continued detention of the Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Five of the twelve activists detained hold British National Overseas status or dual-nationality. The international community must stand up against China’s coercive diplomacy and arbitrary detention of foreign nationals.

As you continue to push for the release of our two Michaels, we hope you will also urge the Chinese Government to return the twelve to Hong Kong. This is a simple matter of natural justice.’

Signed by:

Jenica Atwin MP

James Bezan MP

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith MP

Ted Falk MP

The Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay MP

Jasraj Singh Hallan MP

Matt Jeneroux MP

Tom Kmiec MP

Michael Kram MP

Paul Manly MP

Elizabeth May MP

Phil McColeman MP

The Hon. John McKay MP

Marcus Powlowski MP

Nelly Shin MP

David Sweet MP

Warren Steinley MP

Cathay Wagantall MP

John Williamson MP

Bob Zimmer MP

Senator Stephen Greene

Senator Leo Housakos

Senator Marilou McPhedran

Senator Jim Munson

Senator Thanh Hai Ngo