Canadian MPs will investigate ‘safe haven’ plan for Hongkongers fleeing national security law

A parliamentary committee has unanimously backed a study of how to help Hong Kong people ‘facing persecution’ under the new security law

MP Jenny Kwan decries a lack of concrete measures in Canada to accommodate Hongkongers escaping the law, in a situation she says is ‘getting worse by the day’

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Police officers stand guard on Nathan Road in Hong Kong in September during protests against the new national security law. Photo: May Tse

Published: 4:54am, 23 Oct 2020Updated: 11:32pm, 23 Oct 2020

A Canadian parliamentary committee has voted unanimously to investigate providing safe haven to Hongkongers “facing persecution” under the city’s national security law.

The decision by the standing committee on citizenship and immigration comes amid tough rhetoric from China’s ambassador, and growing pressure on the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to provide concrete measures to match his Liberal government’s condemnation of the security law.

I think about how I would feel, as a mother. If my children were in that environment [in Hong Kong], what would I do? I would be desperate to get them to safety

Canadian MP Jenny Kwan

Although some Hongkongers who took part in the city’s protest movement have reportedly been granted refugee status in Canada recently, critics said Ottawa has failed to extend specific protections.

The motion approved by the cross-party committee on Tuesday, was introduced by Hong Kong-born MP Jenny Kwan, of the left-leaning New Democratic Party.

It pledges the committee to “undertake a study to examine special immigration and refugee measures in order to provide a safe haven to the people of Hong Kong facing persecution under the new national security law”. Findings would be reported to parliament, with the government to respond.

Hong Kong-born Canadian MP Jenny Kwan introduced a motion to parliament’s immigration committee, pledging it to investigate how to provide safe haven to Hongkongers fleeing the new national security law. Photo: Handout