.png){kind=small}
2023年7月12日
新聞稿
港裔加拿大團體歡迎聯邦政府移除救生艇計劃 “Stream B” 學歷要求
港加聯(CHKL)丶溫支聯(VSSDM)丶沙省香港同行(SSHK)及溫哥華香港協進會(VHKFS) 等四個團體歡迎加拿大移民部宣佈取消救生艇政策Stream B的永久居民申請中的學歷要求。是次政策改變及今年2月7日有關開放式工作簽證之宣佈，使所有過去10年之大專畢業的香港人，在加拿大一年內工作1560小時後，都可以申請成為加拿大永久居民。
自移民部在二月初放寬開放式工作簽證，我們與其他港裔加拿大公民團體一直推動政府理順救生艇政策，進一步相應放寬Stream B永久居民申請條件。二月中我們親身到訪渥太華與政府官員及議員討論移民及其他與香港相關之政策。加拿大政府正面回應我們的倡議，並為香港人提供保護，逃離中共治下日益極權的香港。移民部今年以來的政策轉變，相信會吸引更多香港人申請來加國定居。香港人與加拿大擁抱同樣價值觀，其專業技能和國際經驗肯定會為加拿大未來經濟和社會發展作出貢獻。
但是，我們留意到有意來加拿大的香港人，在各簽證及永久居民申請的程序中，依然面對種種障礙。當中最大的莫過於香港警隊拒絕發出無犯罪紀錄證明書及示威者的犯罪紀錄。我們期望移民部明白自2019年以來，香港政府以暴動、非法集結、洗黑錢、煽動等罪名，按政治需要任意檢控。香港人的簽證及移民申請，在不能提供無犯罪紀錄證明書或有前述「罪行」紀錄時，實在亦應獲移民部接納。我們和其他友會將繼續推動移民部移除港人移民加拿大的不必要障礙，並延長政策至2026年以後。
最後，雖然我們非常歡迎是次政策轉變，但我們必須指出，很不幸地作是次宣佈之場地由一個長期被指親中共的組織提供，組織之部分頭目更支持香港政府和警隊鎮壓民主運動。我們固然歡迎政府的慷慨支援，但對選址之差劣表示遺憾。
July 12, 2023
For Immediate Release
Hongkonger Canadian Organizations welcome the removal of education requirement in ‘Stream B’ applications
Canada-Hong Kong Link, Vancouver Society for Support of Democratic Movement, Saskatchewan Stands with Hong Kong, and Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society welcome the announcement from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) to remove the education requirement under the Canadian work experience stream (Stream B) of the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways. By removing the education requirement in Stream B and the expansion of OWP for Hong Kong residents, all Hong Kong residents who have graduated within the past 10 years from a post-secondary institution can now apply for permanent residence after working for 1560 hours in one year.
We and other Hongkonger groups have advocated for the streamlining of the eligibility in Stream B, following IRCC’s announcement regarding Open Work Permits (OWP) for Hong Kong residents on February 7, 2023. In mid-February, we met with policymakers in Ottawa to discuss migration and other policy issues related to Hong Kong. We are delighted that the Canadian government recognizes our advocacy effort and the necessity to protect Hongkongers from increasingly totalitarian rule as Communist China encroaches on Hong Kong. We believe the policy changes this year will help to attract and facilitate more Hongkongers to apply for immigration to Canada. Hongkongers who share the same core values as Canadians will bring in skill sets and international experience required for the economy and development of the social fabric.
However, barriers to the application of Open Work Permits, Study Permits, and Stream A and B still exist. The two most notable barriers are the Hong Kong Police Force refusing to issue police certificates and the “criminal records” of protesters. Since 2019, Hong Kong has become a police state. We would hope IRCC will recognize that the prosecution of crimes such as riots, unlawful assembly, money laundering, and sedition were used politically and arbitrarily by the Hong Kong Government. Applications of aforementioned permits and PR pathways should be accepted when the applicant cannot provide a police certificate and these “crimes” are involved. We and our Hong Kong Canadian allies will continue to advocate for IRCC to eliminate unnecessary barriers to Hongkongers’ immigration to Canada and to consider a continuation of the Lifeboat Program beyond 2026.
Finally, we would like to point out that the much welcome announcement today was unfortunately held at a venue operated by an organization that has long been accused of having a close relationship with the Chinese Communist Party and being led by figures supporting the suppression of democratic movements by the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Police Force. We regret the poor choice of venue, although we welcome the generous support of the Canadian Government.