Hong Kong diaspora groups raise concerns over RCMP-China Ministry of Public Security MoU

Today, Hong Kong Watch and nine other Hong Kong diaspora organizations have raised serious concerns over the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on law enforcement cooperation signed between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China.

While recognizing the importance of combating transnational crime, the groups warn that the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement has created fear and uncertainty within Hong Kong diaspora communities in Canada. Many Hong Kongers fled repression by Chinese authorities and now fear that closer cooperation with China’s internal security apparatus could undermine their safety, privacy, and willingness to engage with Canadian law enforcement.

The organizations urge the Government of Canada to release the full text of the MoU, clarify its scope and safeguards, and demonstrate that cooperation on crime will not expose diaspora communities to intimidation, surveillance, or transnational repression. They also call on lawmakers and the media to treat diaspora safety and trust in Canadian institutions as matters of public interest and national importance.

You can read the full statement here.

香港監察聯同海外港人團體就加拿大皇家騎警與中國公安部簽訂諒解備忘錄表達憂慮

就加拿大皇家騎警與中國公安部簽訂執法合作諒解備忘錄，香港監察今日聯同九個海外港人組織發聲明表達嚴重憂慮。

聯署團體表示明白打擊跨國犯罪的重要性，但警告有關協議缺乏透明度，在加拿大海外港人社群中引發恐懼和不確定氣氛。很多香港人尋求逃離中國當局的打壓，現在他們擔心，加拿大當局與中國內部安全機構更緊密的合作可能會損害他們的安全、私隱，以及與加拿大執法部門合作的意願。

聯署組織促請加拿大政府公布諒解備忘錄全文，澄清涵蓋範圍和保障措施，並表明打擊犯罪合作不會將離散群體置於恐嚇、監視或跨國鎮壓的風險中。這些組織亦呼籲立法議員和傳媒將離散群體的安全和對加拿大機構的信任，視為公眾利益和國家要務。

聲明全文可在此處閱覽。

Photo: Eric Stoynov on Unsplash