Canadian House of Commons passes Bill C-70 to counter foreign interference
The Canadian House of Commons has passed Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference. Hong Kong Watch welcomes the passage of Bill C-70, and urges the Senate to follow suit by passing the Bill as soon as possible. The first reading of the Bill in the Senate took place on 13 June, and the second reading is expected next week.
The passage of Bill C-70 follows Hong Kong Watch Canada’s Policy Advisor Katherine Leung testifying before the Canadian House of Commons and Senate on our support of the Bill which will combat foreign interference in Canada.
The Bill will amend the Canadian Security Intelligence Act (CSIA), Security of Information Act, Canada Evidence Act, Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, and other acts to provide greater oversight and accountability within existing structures intended to combat foreign interference, including transnational repression against the Hong Kong community.
This includes updating the CSIA to equip national security partners to broaden the disclosure of their Canadian Security Intelligence Service information to key partners beyond the Government of Canada, which will allow institutions to better understand and anticipate potential threats, build resilience against foreign interference, and take proactive measures to safeguard their operations and intellectual property.
Hong Kong Watch calls for the immediate application of Bill C-70 to support the growing number of Hong Kongers in Canada, who face job loss, eviction, and even harassment due to their political opinions. You can read more about how transnational repression continues to affect Canada’s Hong Kong community in Hong Kong Watch’s April 2024 publication, Safety of Hong Kongers in Canada: Transnational Repression and Foreign Interference.
Hong Kong Watch Patron Senator Leo Housakos said:
“While this legislation is unnecessarily overdue, it is welcomed by those of us who have long been calling for stronger supports to combat foreign interference in Canada’s affairs and to protect members of diaspora communities against transnational repression through threats and intimidation like those we’ve seen against Hong Kongers here in Canada.
However, this legislation is not a cure all but rather a tool in the box. We must all commit to never letting our guard down against malign regimes seeking to disrupt world order by meddling in the affairs of nations who cherish freedom, democracy, and rule of law.”
加拿大眾議院通過《C-70法案》打擊外國干預 香港監察促請參議院效法
加拿大眾議院日前通過《C-70打擊外國干預法案》。香港監察歡迎眾議院通過《C-70法案》，同時促請參議院效法，儘快通過法案。法案於6月13日在參議院完成首讀，預計下週展開二讀。
《C-70法案》獲通過前，香港監察加拿大政策顧問Katherine Leung分別在加拿大眾議院和參議院作證，表明香港監察支持法案，法案有助打擊加拿大境內的外國干預。
香港監察呼籲立即採納《C-70法案》，以期支援因政治觀點而面臨失業、迫遷，甚至騷擾的在加港人，遇到這些情況的人愈來愈多。如欲更詳細了解跨國鎮壓如何持續影響加拿大港人社群，可參閱香港監察2024年4月發表的簡報《在加港人的安全：跨國鎮壓與外國干預》（Safety of Hong Kongers in Canada: Transnational Repression and Foreign Interference）。
香港監察贊助人、加拿大參議員Senator Leo Housakos表示：
「雖然這項立法不必要地來得太遲，但仍受到我們歡迎。我們長期以來一直呼籲當局提供更強而有力的支援，打擊外國干預加拿大事務，並保護離散社群成員免受跨國鎮壓，例如我們所見針對在加港人的威脅和恐嚇。
然而，這項立法並非萬能之計，而是現成工具之一。我們均須承諾，絕不對惡意政權放鬆警戒。這些政權試圖透過干預珍視自由、民主和法治的國家事務，擾亂世界秩序。」