Press Conference 2024-09-12

TORONTO – September 11, 2024

Coalition urges the Canadian government to revoke diplomatic status to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO)

A coalition of human rights and pro-democracy groups is launching a petition to call on the Canadian government to stop according any special rights or diplomatic status to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) and to proactively apply sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against Chinese and Hong Kong officials.

Furthermore, the petition reiterates the call on the government to demand the release of Jimmy Lai, Chow-Hang-Tung and Hong Kong 47 whose only ‘crime’ was to exercise their rights and freedoms as prescribed by the UN Human Rights Declaration. 

Hong Kong’s National Security Law came into effect in 2020,  shattering China’s international commitment to the promise of “One Country, Two Systems”. The territory’s autonomy has been annihilated, and its people have lost even the most basic of human rights and freedoms. 

Human rights activists, including former parliamentarians and journalists are being convicted for exercising the freedoms they once enjoyed. Known as Hong Kong 47, most have been jailed since February 2021, and convicted under the National Security Law.

“By smashing to pieces the Sino-British Joint Declaration, it is time for Canada to revoke those privileges the HKETO enjoys,” said MP Jenny Kwan, the petition’s sponsor. “The International community must raise our voices for basic human rights around the globe and in support of those who are being silenced.”

The Hong Kong trade offices around the world were given diplomatic privileges and immunities under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.

“Hongkongers in Canada are in clear and present danger of harassment and surveillance from the HKETO,” Mabel Tung of Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement (VSSDM) said, citing recent arrest of a trade office manager in London for alleged “foreign interference offence.” 

 “There is strong support across Canada for this petition,” said Cheuk Kwan of Toronto Association for Democracy in China (TADC). “Canadians are all aware that the National Security Law makes a mockery of freedom of expression and the rule of law.”

The petition’s organizers include Toronto Association for Democracy in China, Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement and Movement for Democracy in China (Calgary) with support from Canada-Hong Kong Link, Hong Kong Watch and Action Free Hong Kong Montreal.