‘Prejudiced & groundless’
▶ Property baron’s verdict on visa canceled by Australia
Editor’s Note:
Chinese property tycoon Huang Xiangmo’s permanent residency in Australia was canceled by Australian officials, newspaper reports said last week. In an exclusive Chinese-language interview with Global Times reporter Fan Lingzhi(GT), Huang said the accusations were “prejudiced and groundless” and the cancellation has had a huge impact on his business and his family. GT: Were you instantly informed when you were denied your Australian permanent residency? What were you doing then? How does it affect you and your business? Huang: I got the information after my lawyer in Australia received a notice from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. I was at my house in Hong Kong and I went to Thailand frequently for my new investment there. I moved from Hong Kong to Australia seven years ago and I traveled between the two places frequently to take care of my business. Like many Hong Kong businessperson in Australia, I am always “up in the air.”
The incident has had a huge impact on me and my family. Three generations of my family have lived in Australia for seven years. Apart from me, all those in the family is Australian citizens. The younger generation have studied, worked, married and had children there and just like other Chinese people in Australia, they have already been fully integrated. Australia is their home. More importantly, my grand-
daughter was born in Australia and she is learning to speak. She is now at an adorable age and I think about her frequently.
It also affects my business of course. Some partners without information on this may have some unnecessary worries and that is why I released a statement on February 8. Relevant documents from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) clearly stated that I did not violate any laws in Australia. However, those reporters who claimed to have inside information from ASIO mentioned nothing about it. I have to tell my friends and the public about it. A more rational conclusion based on common sense would be: If I did break the law, ASIO would not have to resort to an excuse that is vague and groundless.
My business was affected less than my life. First, the business in Australia is only part of our global investment and my family is enhancing investment around the world. Second, my son has taken over the business in Australia since the second half of last year.
I made a succession plan for my Australian company a long time ago and it was implemented as scheduled. My son Jimmy Huang took over as chairman last year. I was no longer a shareholder or executive. I hold no positions or shares of the company. It has always been my philosophy that if you decide to hand over a business, you have to give all of it so that the young people have every opportunity to thrive and I can fully focus on the strategic development of our global businesses.
As a local enterprise, Yuhu Group Australia has made a huge investment in real estate, agriculture and fisheries. It has brought much employment and is a demonstration of how local Australian companies with Chinese heritage can contribute to the country. The core management team of Yuhu consists of young people born after the 1980s and they are assisting the chairman, who was born in the 1990s, in the company. That’s how a young and energetic enterprise should be and I believe they offer to the world a glimpse of a new generation of China-born entrepreneurs.
GT: The Australian side denied your citizenship “on character grounds.” Australia’s Department of Home Affairs seems to have concerns about the “reliability” of your answers given during naturalization interviews and also your communication with ASIO. How do you understand the vague expression of “on character grounds” and “reliability?”
Huang: ASIO has never provided any clear statement. The wording in the documents sent to me have been vague. Neither I nor my lawyer understood what they mean and we don’t have the chance to cross-examine them. There are only two reasons that are comparatively clearly stated. First, I was previously the chairman of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (ACPPRC) and I am currently chairman of the Oceanic Alliance of Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (OAPPRC). Second, I have business and family ties in China. The two reasons are very ridiculous, as I have mentioned in my statement.
GT: You have mentioned in your statement that according to ASIO, the key allegation is that you are committed to promoting the peaceful reunification of China as the current chairman of the OAPPRC and previous chairman of ACPPRC. What do you think is the logic of the Australian side and how do you respond? What have you done in promoting the reunification? Huang: I cannot figure out the logic of ASIO in regard to my efforts in promoting the reunification of China as threatening the national security of Australia. After all, my words and actions are fully in accordance with Australia’s foreign policies and laws.
I previously thought that any country’s intelligence agency, no matter how special it is, cannot go beyond the country’s government nor should it act against the country’s foreign policies in such an open manner. Australia established diplomatic relations with China in 1972 and has clearly stated a firm adherence to the one-China principle. Australia also has clear knowledge of the two countries’ differences in political systems.
If someone from the ASIO disagrees with Australia’s foreign policy, I believe there’s ample room for discussion and negotiation within the framework of Australia’s political system. However, it certainly should not be an act from a system that has claimed to have democracy and rule of law to abuse power and force its dissidence on vulnerable Chinese. If you treat Chinese in such a manner today, you would do this to the Jews and Arabs tomorrow and that’s the most dangerous thing.
GT: Sources reportedly said the decision to deny your citizenship and residency were made after two years’ “background analysis” on you by Australia’s security intelligence and immigration authorities. Are you aware of such a background analysis of you and is it suspected of infringing privacy?
Huang: I have always thought that there would be a background analysis for all who apply for citizenship
or residency. It's probably a common practice for any security authority in any country. No information should be leaked during the process, as required by law and to protect the privacy of the people involved. If that is not the case and the authorities leak the information to the media now, they could leak such information to a foreign government in the future. I believe such behavior certainly violates laws and regulations and even constitutes a crime.
During the past years, some media have smeared me by claiming that they had inside information from the ASIO. However, on social media platforms such as Twitter, many Australians have questioned those reporters' access to inside information from ASIO, saying the unknown accessibility could be the biggest security concern. If the ASIO really cares about Australia's national security, it should have a thorough investigation about the sources of the media and investigate whether some of the reporters are suspected of serving foreign intelligence agencies apart from their actions of stealing classified information to gain attention and a spotlight.
GT: How is the mainstream public opinion in Australia? Can you estimate how many support you? For a long time, the Australian media have been surprisingly united in smearing the image of Chinese people and hyping the “China threat.” Why is this happening and can you reiterate your response to the attacks on you?
Huang: As I mentioned earlier, some reports and certain media cannot represent mainstream public opinion in Australia. Since 2015, the show of some Australian media smearing Chinese has occurred for Season Six, and the current situation is the sixth season of the show. However, what is gratifying to me is that there are still a few articles that have refuted such smearing reports and issued a rational voice. Many friends from political, business and academic backgrounds have sent me greetings and sympathy. Therefore, I firmly believe, and I also hope that Chinese compatriots, especially the Chinese media, will also recognize clearly that the mainstream of Australian society, including the Australian media, could not be represented by some reports or reporters. It's just we cannot be the “silent people” anymore and we should speak out, to let the world see Australia's real public opinion, and avoid the country's return to the White Australia policy and far-right populism.
GT: What role have Chinese played in Australia's politics, economics and society in the past 200 years? Some people say that this is a watershed incident in Australia's perception of Chinese influence. Is it so serious?
Huang: Chinese have come to Australia for at least 200 years. In 1818, Mai Shiying from Guangdong Province disembarked at Port Jackson and became one of the earliest recorded Chinese immigrants to Australia. The Chinese are some of the earliest builders of Australia. They live in harmony with the aborigines and worked with other ethnic groups from all over the world and have made a great contribution to building a prosperous, rich and harmonious Australia. In the 2016 demographics, the number of Chinese Australians exceeded 1.2 million, accounting for more than 5 percent of the total population.
Last year, more than 2,000 people from all walks of life in Australia and nearly 300 Chinese groups gathered in Sydney to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Chinese coming to Australia. Australia's prime minister, federal opposition leader and the governors of the states respectively sent a congratulatory letter to the commemorative meeting, embodying the closeness of Australian society in the form of a family portrait. I was honored to be the chairman of the conference. The response from all walks of life in Australia was very positive. The New South Wales Legislative Council also unanimously passed a motion to highly affirm the contribution of the Chinese to Australia for 200 years and highly appreciated the conference.
However, despite the hard work and gentle nature of the Chinese, they still suffered persecution under the White Australia Policy along with other non-European ethnic groups. This has become a stain that cannot be ignored in Australia's great history. Even in the shadow of the White Australia Policy, the few Chinese left behind have made tremendous contributions and even sacrifices for Australia. For example, in the arduous anti-fascist war, the Chinese, along with other Australian compatriots from other ethnicities, devoted their lives and dedicated everything to defending Australia.
The official implementation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 proclaimed that all Australians, regardless of color or ethnicity, enjoyed the same basic rights and opportunities and declared an end to the White Australia Policy. This law, along with the Constitution, has become the foundation of contemporary Australia. For more than 40 years since the implementation of the act, Australia has become a home for multiculturalism and ethnic harmony through the joint efforts of ethnic groups including Chinese.
However, in recent years, there have been some noises in Australia, and racism and populism have shown signs of rising.
As for my incident, I think it still takes time to observe and it's too early to say whether it will become a watershed incident. After all, the relevant legal procedures, although long, are still in progress. I still believe in law and justice.
GT: Some media say you are the victim of party political competition. Do you agree?
Huang: Although I am familiar with many Australian politicians, I am only a donor, a person outside the threshold, who is not interested in the gaming inside or between political parties. My donations were made at the request of political parties and politicians. They raised donations according to the law. I donated according to the law. Except for a parliament member who suddenly returned money after accepting donations for a long time, all my political donations were calmly accepted by them. This also shows that they have enough confidence in the legitimacy of these donations. Otherwise they should have been refunded. I am still very pleased with this.
Therefore, to be honest, I simply don't know whether I am a victim of party struggle. This should be analyzed and interpreted by experts who have a deeper understanding of Australian politics and revealed over time.
However, I estimate that behind some media's bizarre collaborative reports and bold claims of obtaining intelligence secrets that should not be obtained, there seems to be some strange power operating in a dark place outside the law. It will take time to gradually reveal the secret. I am confident that some organizations in Australia will need to apologize to me when the day of truth comes.
GT: What do you think is the root cause of stumbling China-Australian relations in recent years? After living in Australia for a long time, how do you think China-Australia relations could break through barriers and get on the right track?
Huang: I am not an expert in international relations, but I have lived in Australia for many years and I have some rough ideas about it.
China-Australia relations have always stumbled over the years. I think the root cause is that in a new era of international relations, Australia has not found a position that best meets Australia's national interest.
The history of Australia has determined the innate characteristics of a giant baby. This is an objective fact and it does not mean Australia has to feel inferior. The growth of a giant baby takes time, and Australia still has a long way to go. I fully understand this. Australia is a beautiful country. The Chinese are one of the earliest builders of this country and a part of this country that cannot be separated.
My family and I moved from Hong Kong to Australia not only because we like the beautiful scenery and simple folk customs, but also because it is a home that has integrated the Chinese blood. In the past seven years, I have made many friends of different ethnicities here. The people here are very friendly and kind. The anti-China group is only a very small handful of people.