Activists ask Ottawa to end Hong Kong’s special status
Pro-democracy group says it’s time to cancel free trade, other benefits Canada gives city
As Ottawa pleads for dialogue to resolve fresh outrage over China’s latest attempt exert its control over Hong Kong, a pro-democracy organization is calling on Canada to stop considering the city as different from the rest of mainland China.
Alliance Canada Hong Kong (ACHK), a Canadian organization comprising those who oppose Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in the city, said Beijing’s move Thursday to implement a national security law giving itself power to interfere with protests in the city means Hong Kong can no longer be considered special.
“We think that the move that Beijing has made makes it clear that one country, two systems no longer exists,” said Cherie Wong, the executive director of the ACHK. “The relationship between Hong Kong and Canada must be treated as such.”
The legislation will give Beijing power to take aim at the large, often violent anti-government protests that roiled Hong Kong for much of last year — unrest that has posed a direct challenge to the CPP and its leader, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In the CCP’s view, such laws are necessary to protect China’s sovereignty from external forces determined to undermine its rule. But opponents are calling the move the “death of Hong Kong.”
Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Adam Austen said Ottawa is encouraging dialogue to address the “legitimate concerns” raised by Hong Kongers over the legislation. Hong Kong is home to 300,000 Canadian citizens.
“We are concerned by these reports and we are following the developments closely,” Austen said. “With hundreds of thousands of Canadians living in Hong Kong, we have a vested interest in its stability and prosperity — the foundation of which are Hong Kong’s relative autonomy and basic freedoms.”
The so-called one country, two systems policy has been in place since Hong
Kong was handed over to the CCP by the United Kingdom in 1997 at the termination of the U.K.’s 99-year lease on the territory.
The Sino British Joint Declaration stipulated Hong Kong’s autonomy, rights and freedoms would remain unchanged until 2047. Those freedoms have distinguished Hong Kong from the rest of China.
Austen said Canada supports the autonomy of Hong Kong under the one country, two systems policy. But Wong called the faith in the system a “fantasy” and said Canada must recognize Hong Kong is no longer autonomous and should no longer be treated as though it is.
“I hope Canada can stand up against Beijing’s global agenda,” Wong said. “Beijing has been trying to rewrite the international order for ages and this step in Hong Kong is another indication of how Beijing doesn’t care for international norms.”
She said such a move would have implications on Hong Kong residents having their freedom of movement impeded because Chinese nationals need a visa to visit Canada, while Hong Kong residents do not. It would also have commercial and political ramifications for Hong Kong.
She said China currently enjoys free trade, travel and other benefits of not being treated the same as mainland China, while at the same time not honouring the agreement under which the benefits were granted.
Taking these things away would send a message to the world that Hong Kong is not immune to the corruption and “tyranny” of the CCP, Wong said, adding it would force a rethink about where the region fits in the world.
ACHK warns the overreach in Hong Kong expands to Canada, where last year pro-democracy demonstrators in Vancouver and Toronto were targeted by those supporting the CCP.
“If the CCP doesn’t respect an international declaration that is registered at the UN, why would it respect a trade agreement, why would it respect any other agreements we make with them?” she said. “If we do nothing, we’re complicit in the CCP’s movement to take over with their authoritarian norms.”