Canadian MP Tom Kmiec introduces petition calling for IRCC to remove the requirement for a police certificate from the Hong Kong Police

Last Friday, Tom Kmiec MP introduced a House of Commons petition calling for the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to remove the requirement for a police certificate from the Hong Kong Police for Open Work Permit applicants and introduce an alternative security check as necessary.

The petition notes that on February 6, 2023, Canada announced an extension and expansion of the open work permit program for eligible Hong Kong residents by extending the Open Work Permit (OWP) for an additional two years. However, some Hong Kongers involved in the pro-democracy movement are unable to access the Open Work Permit scheme as they are required to obtain a police certificate from the Hong Kong Police, and eligible Open Work Permit holders in Canada are required to provide Hong Kong Police Certificate to apply for permanent residency via Hong Kong Pathway Stream B.

Stream B applicants currently are required to produce a police certificate to apply for the Open Work Permit scheme and the Hong Kong Pathway Stream B immigration scheme. Due to previous arrests or fears of alerting Hong Kong authorities to their intentions to immigrate, many Hong Kongers are unable to produce a police certificate for the purposes of immigration applications.

The residents call on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to remove the requirement for a police certificate from the Hong Kong Police.

This would ensure that the Open Work Permit for Hong Kongers and Stream B scheme are accessible for Hong Kongers who may have difficulties obtaining a police certificate.

The full petition can be read here.