Hong Kong Watch welcomes the launch of Canada’s ‘Young Talents’ visa scheme for Hong Kong graduates and their dependents
Today, the Canadian Government announced the formal launch of its new visa route for young Hong Kongers. From 8th February 2021, Hong Kong graduates and their dependents will be able to apply for a three-year work visa in Canada which will provide a pathway to citizenship. This includes individuals that have graduated with a Canadian post-secondary diploma or degree in the last 5 years, and those that hold an equivalent foreign credential.
Hong Kong residents currently in Canada temporarily, including visitors, students and workers, will be able to apply online from within Canada. Those applying from abroad will remain subject to current travel restrictions and may not be able to come to Canada unless they have a job offer or meet a travel exemption and comply with all public health requirements.
The Government also has introduced changes to the Canadian asylum system, including offering an assurance that individuals charged under the National Security Law will not be rejected and offering Hong Kongers an exemption from the 12-month bar on a pre-removal risk assessment.
Hong Kong Watch launched its International Lifeboat Campaign on 25th June 2020. After privately talking with stakeholders in Canada, the UK, EU, US, and Australia, on the need for coordinated action to ensure every Hong Konger has a lifeline out of the city.
In the Summer 2020, Hong Kong Watch patrons, the former Governor of Hong Kong Lord Patten and Lord Alton of Liverpool wrote separately to the Canadian Government calling for the creation of a targeted ‘Young Talents’ program to address the gaps in the UK BNO policy.
Commenting on the launch of the scheme, Hong Kong Watch patron and the former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten, said:
“The evisceration of Hong Kong's freedoms demands a coordinated international response, including coordinated sanctions, diplomacy and a lifeboat policy.
This is why the Canadian government's decision to roll-out a young talents scheme is to be welcomed. Many of the pro-democracy activists who are likely to be targeted under this new law were born after the handover in 1997 and do not qualify for the UK government's BNO scheme. This young talents scheme offers a vital lifeline to young graduates from Hong Kong."
Hong Kong Watch patron, Lord Alton of Liverpool, also said:
"For years, I have been campaigning for Commonwealth countries to stand together to offer a lifeline to Hong Kongers. It is excellent to see the Canadian government offer a pathway to citizenship to Hong Kong graduates.
The UK Government's British National (Overseas) policy does not adequately cover young people, and so this policy helps to plug some of the gaps."
For further details, you can read the Government’s full announcement here:
And Hong Kong Watch’s explainer on the new scheme:
https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2020/11/24/canadas-lifeboat-scheme-for-hong-kongers-hkw-explainer