Hong Kong Watch testifies at the Special Committee on Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship
On Tuesday, Aileen Calverley, co-founder and Trustee of Hong Kong Watch, testified as a witness at the Special Committee on Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship Committee.
Ms Calverley’s testimony outlined the broad human rights situation in Hong Kong, including the state of press freedom, the persecution of pro-democracy individuals, and the need for Canada to expand and extend the Lifeboat Open Work Permit scheme, which is set to expire in February 2023.
“The Hong Kong Pathway Open Work Permit scheme announced by Canada two years ago is a start, but there are many gaps that need to be addressed. For example, the five-year restriction poses a barrier to many Hong Kongers – even for recent graduates who meet the requirement at the time of application, by the time their work permit is received and the hours of work requirement is fulfilled they might already have fallen out of eligibility to apply for permanent residency under Stream B of the scheme. Many frontline human rights defenders, such as journalists, pro-democracy activists, lawmakers, and medical professionals are currently not covered by Canada’s Open Work Permit scheme. We recommend that the Government create a human rights defender’s category to address this gap, similar to the current policy for Ukraine,” said Ms Calverley to the Committee on the issue of the Open Work Permit scheme.
Even Hong Kongers who are able to immigrate to Canada are not free from the far-reaching hand of the regime. Chinese police are setting up offices in Canada, where dissidents continue to be harassed and intimidated by agents acting on behalf of the CCP. She said, “There are quite a few that have opened in Ontario, and one in Markham where I live. The Chinese police are openly doing this because there is no legislation to punish them, so Canada should have new legislation.”
Citing research by Hong Kong Watch, Ms Calverley pointed out that the passive investment strategies pursued by both the leading Canadian federal and provincial pension funds, as well as university endowment funds have failed to properly factor in human rights considerations when investing the portfolios of Canadian pensioners. Holding of emerging market funds includes Chinese companies linked to forced labor.
The full testimony can be watched here.
Sam Goodman, Hong Kong Watch’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:
“We welcome the support members of the Canada-China Committee have offered to Hong Kong Watch and the backing for the extension and expansion of the Open Work Permit. We hope that those officials present from IRCC and Global Affairs will listen to the cross-party support in parliament and the urgent need for this scheme to be expanded to meet the human rights crisis in Hong Kong, and come forward with plans as soon as possible for the scheme’s renewal and expansion.”