UK parliamentarians and public figures urge Prime Minister Carney to expand quotas for Canada’s Hong Kong Pathway and clear backlog
Last week, a cross-party group of eight British parliamentarians and public figures, including Hong Kong Watch Patrons Lord Patten of Barnes, the last governor of Hong Kong; Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG KC, former Foreign Secretary; Sir Geoffrey Nice KC; Lord Alton of Liverpool; and Alistair Carmichael MP, as well as the former Leader of the Green Party Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging the Government of Canada to expand the quotas for the Hong Kong Pathway and address the growing backlog of more than 20,000 applications from Hong Kongers seeking permanent residency (PR).
The joint letter, organized by Hong Kong Watch, expresses deep appreciation for Canada’s leadership in launching the Hong Kong Pathway lifeboat scheme in 2021, which allows Hong Kong residents seeking refuge to rebuild their lives in freedom and safety. The letter also highlights how Canada’s program complements the UK’s British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa scheme, providing a coordinated lifeboat approach for Hong Kongers seeking refuge abroad.
However, the signatories point out that the current Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) quotas – capped at fewer than 2,000 admissions in 2025 – are insufficient to process the 20,000 applications currently in the system, potentially leaving thousands of families in limbo for years. They urge the Canadian government to immediately expand the quotas and reallocate unused admission targets to ensure timely approvals for Hong Kong Pathway applicants.
“This prolonged uncertainty is causing significant hardship: as temporary work permits expire, families are losing access to healthcare and children are being forced out of school,” the letter states. “Applicants are eager and committed to contributing fully to Canadian society, but they are unable to do so without permanent residency.”
The letter also highlights the economic impact of the policy gap, noting that Hong Kongers without PR status are unable to transfer their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) retirement savings – capital that could otherwise contribute to Canada’s economy. It further calls attention to Hong Kong-trained professionals, such as doctors, who face barriers to employment due to their temporary status.
The signatories urge Prime Minister Carney to expand the Hong Kong Pathway quotas, clear the backlog, and ensure a fair and timely route to permanent residency for qualified applicants. They emphasize that Hong Kongers have already demonstrated their contributions to British society under the UK’s BNO visa scheme and will continue to enrich Canada in similar ways.
“Your leadership and principled voice have always carried weight on matters of justice,” the signatories write. “We would be deeply grateful for your support in ensuring a compassionate and practical solution for these individuals.”
Aileen Calverley, co-founder and Chair of Trustees of Hong Kong Watch, welcomed the letter from UK lawmakers, saying:
“This joint letter reflects the shared responsibility of democratic allies to stand with the people of Hong Kong who have chosen freedom. The UK’s and Canada’s lifeboat schemes have already transformed lives, but without swift action to expand quotas and enable MPF transfers, thousands of families will remain trapped in uncertainty.
Canada’s Hong Kong Pathway fills a vital gap for those without BNO status, offering them a chance at freedom. We are grateful for Prime Minister Carney’s leadership and urge him to ensure these lifeboat measures fulfil their promise.”
The letter was copied to The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration; The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance; and The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
You can read the full letter here.
Background
Canada launched the Hong Kong Pathway in 2021 to support Hong Kong residents fleeing the erosion of freedoms under the National Security Law. The program provides study-permit and work-permit routes to permanent residency through the Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) category and complements the United Kingdom’s British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa scheme. Together, these lifeboat programs embody the shared commitment of Canada and the UK to provide safety, opportunity and a new beginning for Hong Kongers seeking freedom.
Canada’s Hong Kong Pathway fills a vital gap for those ineligible for BNO status – particularly younger Hong Kongers born after 1997 – ensuring that all who share democratic values have a pathway to rebuild their lives.
As of 2025, over 20,000 Hong Kong Pathway applications remain in processing, with fewer than 2,000 approvals this year. At this pace, clearing the backlog could take a decade, leaving many families in uncertainty. Current restrictions on Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) also prevent applicants from accessing their retirement savings, trapping billions that could otherwise support resettlement and boost Canada’s economy.
Media contact
Hong Kong Watch Canada
info@hongkongwatch.org
彭定康勳爵聯同英國跨黨派議員去信加拿大總理卡尼 促請增撥Hong Kong Pathway配額並清理積壓個案
上星期，八位英國跨黨派國會議員及公眾人物聯署去信加拿大總理卡尼（Mark Carney），促請加拿大政府增撥「Hong Kong Pathway」的移民配額，應對超過兩萬宗不斷積壓的港人永久居留申請個案。聯署人包括五位香港監察贊助人：前香港總督彭定康勳爵（Lord Patten of Barnes）、前外交大臣聶偉敬爵士（Sir Malcolm Rifkind）、尼斯爵士（Sir Geoffrey Nice）、奧爾頓勳爵（Lord Alton of Liverpool）和下議員甘文康（Alistair Carmichael MP），以及前綠黨黨魁本內特女男爵（Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle）。
這封聯署信由香港監察籌劃，首先感謝加拿大於2021年推出「Hong Kong Pathway」救生艇計劃，讓尋求避風港的香港人能夠重建自由與安全的生活。信中亦指出加拿大「Hong Kong Pathway」計劃與英國BNO簽證計劃相輔相成，為在海外尋求避風港的香港人提供協調的救生艇方案。
不過，聯署人指出現時「人道與恩恤 H&C」類別的移民配額——2025年的上限少於2,000個——不足以處理目前系統中的20,000宗申請，可能會使成千上萬的家庭陷入停濟狀態多年。他們促請加拿大政府立即增撥配額，並重新分配未使用的移民目標配額，確保「Hong Kong Pathway」申請人的申請適時獲批。
信中指出：「這種長期的不確定因素造成重大困難：臨時工作簽證到期時，家庭失去醫療保健權利，兒童被迫離開學校。申請人渴望並致力貢獻加拿大社會，但沒有永久居留權，他們無法付諸實行。」
聯署信亦強調有關政策漏洞的經濟影響，指出沒有永居身分的香港人無法轉移強積金（MPF）退休儲蓄——轉移到的話，這些資金能夠貢獻加拿大經濟。信中進一步提請關注醫生等在香港接受培訓的專業人士，他們因臨時身分問題而面對就業困難。
聯署人促請總理卡尼增撥「Hong Kong Pathway」配額，清理積壓個案，為合資格申請人提供公平且適時的永久居留途徑。他們強調，經BNO簽證計劃移居英國的香港人已經展示對英國社會的貢獻，經「Hong Kong Pathway」移居加拿大的香港人將以類似方式豐富加拿大社會。
聯署人表示：「你的領導和有原則的聲音在公義問題上素有影響力。我們希望你能為這些港人提供情理並重的解決方案，非常感謝你的支援。」
香港監察共同創辦人兼信託董事會主席Aileen Calverley歡迎這封英國議員聯署信，表示：
「這封聯署信反映民主國家盟友與選擇自由的香港人站在同一陣線的共同責任。英國和加拿大的救生艇計劃已經改變港人生活，但如果不迅速採取行動增撥配額並容許強積金轉移，成千上萬的家庭會持續處於不確定的困境。
加拿大『Hong Kong Pathway』計劃為沒有BNO身分的港人填補重要漏洞，向他們提供享受自由的機會。我們感謝總理卡尼的領導，並促請他確保這些救生艇措施履行承諾。」
信件副本寄送給加拿大移民部長迪亞布（Lena Metlege Diab）、財政部長商鵬飛（François-Philippe Champagne）和外交部長阿南德（Anita Anand）。
聯署信全文可在這裏閱覽。
背景資料
加拿大於2021年推出「Hong Kong Pathway」救生艇計劃，藉以支援逃離《國家安全法》下自由受損的香港人。計劃透過「人道與恩恤 H&C」類別下的學生簽證和工作簽證，提供永久居留途徑，補足英國BNO簽證計劃。這兩項救生艇計劃體現加拿大與英國的共同承諾，為尋求自由的香港人提供安全、機會和新開始。
加拿大「Hong Kong Pathway」計劃為沒有BNO身分的港人填補重要漏洞——特別是1997年後出生的年輕港人——確保所有擁有共同民主價值的港人都有重建生活的通道。
截至2025年，超過20,000宗「Hong Kong Pathway」申請仍在處理，今年少於2,000宗申請獲批。按照這種速度，清理積壓可能需要十年時間，使許多家庭處於不確定中。現時對香港強積金（MPF）的限制亦阻礙申請人提取退休儲蓄，困住能夠支援重新安置並提振加拿大經濟的數十億資金。
傳媒聯絡
加拿大香港監察
info@hongkongwatch.org
Photo: chris robert on Unsplash