Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Calls mount for Canadian response on Hong Kong

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 31 Aug, 2020 07:48 PM
  • Calls mount for Canadian response on Hong Kong

The federal Liberal government is facing increasingly frustrated and worried calls to help people leave Hong Kong for Canada as China continues to crack down on pro-democracy activists in the former British colony.

The growing exasperation follows Ottawa's suspension of an extradition treaty with Hong Kong in early July after China passed a security law that put Hong Kong under tighter control from Beijing.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the measure and asserted at the time that the federal government was looking at a variety of other responses as well, including on immigration.

The hope for activists, human-rights groups and others at the time was that the government would make it easier for people in Hong Kong to move to Canada, particularly those who already have family here or who have job skills.

But the government has yet to make any decision two months later despite Chinese authorities' having conducted several waves of arrests as part of a crackdown on pro-democracy activists and media.

The government says it is still examining its options, but some in Canada say the time to act is now before Chinese authorities make it impossible for people to leave.

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada signs deals to get COVID-19 vaccines

Canada signs deals to get COVID-19 vaccines
Canada is negotiating deals with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and U.S.-based biotech firm Moderna to secure millions of doses of their experimental COVID-19 vaccines, in case either is approved for wide-scale use.

Canada signs deals to get COVID-19 vaccines

Fisheries industry getting financial support

Fisheries industry getting financial support
The federal government has announced details of a $469-million program aimed at helping Canada's fish harvesters deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fisheries industry getting financial support

Lebanese-Canadian group raises money for Beirut

Lebanese-Canadian group raises money for Beirut
Lebanese-Canadians who watched in horror as an explosion tore through Beirut turned their attention to fundraising on Wednesday, saying it was one of the few things they could do to feel useful from the other side of the world.

Lebanese-Canadian group raises money for Beirut

WE controversy hits Trudeau's support: Poll

WE controversy hits Trudeau's support: Poll
Nearly half of Canadians would support an election being called if the federal watchdog finds Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to have violated the Conflict of Interest Act again over the WE charity affair, a new poll suggests.

WE controversy hits Trudeau's support: Poll

Feds free up billions for COVID-19 retrofits

Feds free up billions for COVID-19 retrofits
The federal government is moving ahead with plans to make it easier for provinces and territories to spend billions of dollars on infrastructure projects to address the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Feds free up billions for COVID-19 retrofits

New type of housing for homeless coming to B.C.

New type of housing for homeless coming to B.C.
The British Columbia government and the City of Vancouver are trying a new way to help get homeless people off the streets with the country's first-ever navigation centre.

New type of housing for homeless coming to B.C.