Hong Kong Watch on a four-day trip to visit Canadian Parliamentarians
Hong Kong Watch went on a four-day trip in June 2022 to visit Canadian Parliamentarians, Senators, Members of House of Commons, Global Affairs Canada, and other politicians and stakeholders.
On 6 June, Hong Kong Watch’s Director of Policy and Advocacy Sam Goodman and Co-Founder & Trustee Aileen Calverley met with Michael Chong MP, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member of the Canadian Parliament, and John Brassard MP, Member of the Board of Internal Economy, House Leader of the Official Opposition and Member of the Canadian Parliament.
During their meetings, they focused on discussing the future development of the Canada’s lifeboat policy. Canada’s work permit scheme under its lifeboat policy will end next year. Hong Kong Watch discussed with MPs on how the Canadian Government can assist Hong Kongers in need, especially those who are ineligible to register for UK’s current BNO visa scheme. They discussed how Canada could help fill that policy gap. Being aware that Hong Kongers who come to Canada on work permits lack support from the government, they also discussed new measures that Canada could launch to help Hong Kongers settle and integrate into the local community.
Hong Kong Watch also discussed with Parliamentarians the new ESG report , which details how Canada’s pension schemes, banks, and universities inadvertently fund China's gross human rights abuses.
On 7 June, Sam Goodman and Aileen Calverley met with Global Affairs Canada, and Members of the House of Commons, including John McKay MP, Lindsay Mathyssen MP, Cathay Wagantall MP and Robert Oliphant MP.
Hong Kong Watch has proposed to Global Affairs Canada and Members of the House of Commons a "Human Rights Fighters Scheme" to protect Hong Kongers who have participated in the protests, including protesters, journalists, frontline first-aiders, and even protesters who have been sentenced to prison for demonstrations and have served their sentences. The new proposal would allow these people to get work permit in Canada without having to go through the current asylum system, details of which will be announced later.
Sam Goodman and Aileen Calverley also met with Senator Leo Housakos, Hong Kong Watch Patron, James Bezan MP, Member of the House of Lords, Greg McLean MP, chair of the Hong Kong Friendship Group, and other parliamentarians including Heather McPherson MP, Marcus Powlowski MP, Dan Muys MP and Arielle Kayabaga MP.
During these meetings, Hong Kong Watch suggested that the Committee on Canada-China Relations could include in their agenda issues concerning Hong Kong, such as Hong Kong’s human rights situation, sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, Canadian pensions investments in Chinese firms with complicity in human rights violations, and the expansion of the lifeboat scheme. Many Canadian MPs mentioned the pressing need for the Canadian Government to sanction against Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights violation.
