February 22, 2023
For Immediate Release
Hongkonger Canadian Delegation to Ottawa on Canada-Hong Kong Relations and Immigration Policies
Canada-Hong Kong Link, Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement, Saskatchewan Stands with Hong Kong, and Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society sent a delegation to Ottawa from February 14 to 16. The delegation met with Members of Parliament and ministries responsible for Canada-Hong Kong relations and immigration policies for Hongkongers. Gloria Fung, the President of Canada-Hong Kong Link, was invited as a keynote speaker at the AGM of the Canada-Hong Kong Parliamentary Friendship Group to address the subject of what Canada can do to continue our support for Hong Kong.
The delegation expressed deep concerns about the ongoing suppression of freedom and the erosion of the independent judicial system in Hong Kong. We further strengthened the MPs’ knowledge and awareness of the National Security Law trials of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and the 47 Democrats prosecuted for organizing and participating in an unofficial primary election. We urged our Canadian government to closely monitor the progress of the court hearings and take timely actions to show solidarity with Hongkongers.
The four organizations have advocated for the special Hong Kong Pathways for Hongkongers, the so-called “Lifeboat Scheme”, since 2019. The delegation appreciated the effort of the Members of Parliament of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) and the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in the recent extension and expansion of the Open Work Permit (OWP) for Hongkongers. However, there is still room for further policy improvement. Given the critical need for protection of Hongkongers under the Hong Kong National Security Law, we continue to advocate for expedited synchronization of the eligibility of OWP with that of the Stream B Permanent Resident Pathway, elimination of program barriers, and extension of the program beyond 2026. We have also submitted to all parliamentarians we met with a report on Hong Kong update with recommendations on Canada-Hong Kong relations and Hong Kong Pathways Program as reference for their future policy formulation.
2023年2月22日
新聞稿
港裔加拿大團體赴渥太華就加港關係及移民政策進行國會遊説
港加聯丶溫支聯丶沙省香港同行及溫哥華香港協進會等四個團體於二月十四至十六日派出代表團前往渥太華,會見負責加港關係和移民政策的國會議員和部門官員。港加聯會長馮玉蘭應邀在二月十五日於加拿大香港國會友好組織的周年大會上以主講嘉賓身份發表有關加拿大可如何繼續支援香港的演説。
代表團對香港的自由受持續打壓及司法獨立被侵蝕表達憂慮,並加強國會議員對傳媒大亨黎智英案及民主派初選47人案等國安法案件的認識及關注。我們呼籲加拿大政府密切跟進審訊進展並採取及時的支援港人行動。
四個加拿大港人團體從二零一九年開始就推動為港人而設的救生艇計劃。最近政府延長及擴展為港人而設的開放式工作簽證,代表團為此感謝相關國會議員及移民部改進相關政策。然而,政策仍存在有待改進的空間。為應對港版國安法下急切保護港人的需要,代表團建議加拿大政府理順整個救生艇政策,進一步相應放寬Stream B永久居民申請條件,並延長政策至2026年以後。代表團向所有會見的國會議員和官員提交一份香港最新情勢分析和對加港關係及移民政策建議書作為國會制訂未來對港政策的參考。
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