Hong Konger with Canadian Permanent Residency successfully withdraws MPF savings from Manulife
A Hong Konger with Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) has successfully withdrawn their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) retirement savings, after previous rejections linked to being a British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport holder. This success follows months of Hong Kong Watch advocating for their case during hearings in the Canadian Parliament and making representations on their behalf to Manulife, a Canadian-headquartered MPF trustee.
Hong Kong Watch would like to thank Manulife, as well as Jenny Kwan MP, Tom Kmiec MP, Brad Redevkopp MP, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe MP, Greg McLean MP and other Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration members for their support in releasing Hong Kongers’ MPF savings and this particular case.
Megan Khoo, Hong Kong Watch’s Research and Policy Advisor who leads our MPF campaign, said:
“This is the first step in securing the retirement savings of Hong Kongers who have permanently left Hong Kong and are entitled to the early withdrawal of their hard-earned savings.
Unfortunately, Hong Kong Watch continues to receive numerous rejection letters demonstrating that MPF trustees are denying Hong Kongers access to their MPF. This is not only affecting Hong Kongers with BNO passports but those without BNO passports who have obtained permanent residency in Australia and have been issued bounties by the Hong Kong government for participating in pro-democracy activities. This demonstrates that the freezing of Hong Kongers’ savings is an act of transnational repression, intended to punish all those who have fled from the Hong Kong regime.
Political retaliation and transnational repression against the Hong Kong community must not become the norm in any corner of the world.
Hong Kong Watch will continue to work alongside the UK and Canadian governments and parliamentarians to advocate for the release of Hong Kongers’ savings. This includes the UK government and the Canadian government issuing guidance to all UK- and Canadian-based financial institutions regarding the use of BNO passports as valid documents, while continuing to press the Hong Kong authorities and MPF trustees to allow Hong Kongers to access their savings.”
持加拿大永居權港人成功從宏利提取強積金
一名持有加拿大永久居留權的香港人成功提取強積金（MPF）退休儲蓄，其申請之前因持有英國國民（海外）（BNO）護照的關係被拒。數月來，香港監察在加拿大國會聽證會上為其個案倡議，並代表事主跟總部設於加拿大的強積金受託人宏利交涉。
香港監察感謝宏利，以及國會議員Jenny Kwan MP、Tom Kmiec MP、Brad Redevkopp MP、Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe MP、Greg McLean MP和其他公民及移民常務委員會委員就釋放港人強積金儲蓄及這宗個案提供援助。
香港監察研究及政策顧問、強積金倡議主管Megan Khoo表示：
「這是已永久離港的港人取回退休儲蓄的第一步，他們有權提早提取辛苦賺來的積蓄。
遺憾的是，香港監察持續接獲大量拒絕信函，顯示強積金受託人拒絕讓香港人領取強積金。這不只影響持有BNO護照的港人，還影響沒持有BNO護照的港人，相關人士已獲得澳洲永久居留權，因參與支持民主活動而被香港政府懸紅通緝。事件顯示凍結港人儲蓄屬跨國鎮壓行為，旨在懲罰所有逃離香港政權的人。
針對香港社群的政治報復和跨國鎮壓絕不能成為世界任何角落的常態。
香港監察會持續與英國和加拿大政府及國會議員合作，倡議釋放港人儲蓄。這包括英、加政府向所有英、加金融機構發出BNO護照可用作有效文件的指引，同時繼續向香港當局和強積金受託人施壓，要求容許港人提取儲蓄。」