Hong Kong Watch gives evidence to Canadian Parliament hearings

This week, members of Hong Kong Watch gave evidence at two hearings of the Canadian Parliament's Canada-China Relations Committee.

Hong Kong Watch co-founder and trustee Aileen Calverley addressed the Committee on Tuesday. Hong Kong Watch Chair Benedict Rogers addressed the Committee on Thursday. They both urged specific actions against China by the Canadian government: implement Magnitsky sanctions, endorse the appointment of a United Nations special rapporteur on Hong Kong, and offer an expedited path to permanent residency for Hong Kongers seeking asylum.

Calverley said: "If Canada, with its long history of defending human rights, is not willing to stand with like-minded partners in defence of Hong Kong, then those values that we all believe in will be degraded, along with Canada’s standing in the world."

"Canada is not dependent on China. Canada must find its backbone and stand up to the CCP. There are three ways to do this: sanctions, diplomacy and refuge."

"For Hong Kong, it is five minutes to midnight, we hope that the Canadian Government will play its part and have the courage to enact sanctions under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act in defence of Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms."

Rogers said: "The time for the free world to act in defence of freedom, democracy and human rights – and the international rules-based order – is now, and that action should be as strong, targeted and united as possible.”

“The UK has made a very generous offer to Hong Kong’s British National Overseas (BNO passport holders, which is very welcome, but it leaves many of Hong Kong’s young people – and especially frontline activists – unprotected, as no one born after 1997 qualifies. Canada could help address this need by establishing a “Young Talent Scheme” to provide a way for young Hong Kongers to come to Canada to work, study and become citizens.”

“The Sino-British Joint Declaration is not just an agreement between Britain and China, but an international treaty lodged at the UN – and its breach, as I said earlier, concerns all of us who believe in the international rules-based system.”

Other witnesses at the hearings also urged the creation of new laws prohibiting foreign interference in Canadian political institutions, media and other democratic institutions, citing efforts by Chinese officials to mobilize the diaspora in Canada to target critics of the regime.