Hong Kong Watch urges stronger action on transnational repression in response to Canadian Foreign Interference Commission report

Last week, the Foreign Interference Commission released its final report following its Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.

While we welcome the report shedding light on some aspects of foreign interference, it falls short in fully capturing the scale and severity of the threat. By not addressing transnational repression with the urgency it demands, it risks normalizing the erosion of democratic freedoms for diaspora communities in Canada. 

In the report, the Commissioner notes that “the Commission did not have the mandate to investigate it in the comprehensive and thoughtful way it requires.” However, in order for Canada to effectively counter foreign interference, the Government of Canada must take into account that transnational repression is a form of foreign interference. Transnational repression silences diaspora communities, undermining democratic participation and limiting elected officials’ ability to represent their constituents. Canadians must be able to speak freely without fear of retribution. 

The report was released following a 15-month investigation into foreign interference in Canada, including how it impacts diaspora communities. Hong Kong Watch participated in the Inquiry’s investigation through consultation meetings, where we shared specific cases of transnational repression against Hong Kongers in Canada and how that impacts the ability of community members to fully participate in Canadian democracy as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

We also appeared before the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions as part of a consultation panel with diaspora community representatives in October last year. During this panel, our Policy Advisor Katherine Leung delivered remarks focusing on the need for a legislative response to transnational repression in Canada and highlighting the gaps in current laws that fail to adequately address the issue.

Hong Kong Watch welcomes this investigation as a much needed first step. We also echo the call to the Government of Canada to adopt the 51 recommendations outlined in the report, particularly “to investigate and develop a comprehensive strategy to address transnational repression.”

加拿大外國干預調查報告出爐 香港監察促就跨國鎮壓採取更強硬行動

上週，加拿大外國干預委員會就「外國干預聯邦選舉過程和民主制度公開調查」（Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions）發表最終報告。

香港監察歡迎這份報告揭示某些外國干預的層面，但認為報告未能完全反映威脅的規模和嚴重性。若不緊急應對跨國鎮壓問題，加拿大離散社群民主自由受到侵蝕就可能變成常態。

委員會專員在報告中指出，「委員會沒權力以所需的全面周詳方式調查（跨國鎮壓）」。不過，加拿大要有效打擊外國干預，加拿大政府就必須考慮到跨國鎮壓屬外國干預的一種。跨國鎮壓壓制離散社群的聲音，破壞民主參與，並限制民選官員代表選民的能力。加拿大人必須能夠自由發言而毋須擔心受到報復。

委員會早前就加拿大外國干預問題展開為期15個月的調查，當中包括外國干預如何影響離散社群。香港監察透過諮詢會議參與調查，分享了跨國鎮壓在加港人的具體個案，以及這個情況如何影響社群成員充分參與加拿大民主的能力，而這受《加拿大權利與自由憲章》保障。

另外，香港監察上年10月出席「外國干預聯邦選舉過程和民主制度公開調查」聽證會，以離散社群代表諮詢小組一員的身分作證。在聽證會上，香港監察政策顧問Katherine Leung重點指出有必要立法回應加拿大跨國鎮壓，強調現行法律存在未能充分應對問題的缺陷。

這項調查是必要的第一步，香港監察表示歡迎。我們亦響應呼籲加拿大政府採納報告所提出的51項建議，特別是「調查並制訂應對跨國鎮壓的全面策略」。