Face of Nation : The Canadian government updated its advisory about travel to Hong Kong earlier this week amid continuing protests by pro-democracy activists. Hong Kong was returned to China from Britain in 1997 as a Special Administrative Region with the promise of a high degree of autonomy, although many in the city say Beijing has tightened its grip in recent years.
“Definitely, there are more and more Canadians that are considering … going back to Canada if the Hong Kong situation is getting worse,” Canadian Edward Chan, who lives in Hong Kong with his family, told. “I think the biggest concern right now is we’re not too certain about what is going to happen, how the Hong Kong government is going to deal with the situation.”
Demonstrators and police have clashed violently in recent days after protesters took over the airport, resulting in two days of flight cancellations. Demonstrations started last spring when Hong Kong’s government put forward a bill that would allow Hong Kong citizens to be sent to China for trial. They continued through the summer — even after the controversial bill was shelved.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland recently told a news conference in Toronto that this is a “turbulent moment” in the world. She said the government is working on contingency plans to help Canadians in Hong Kong. “I would urge all Canadians, if you live in Hong Kong, if you are travelling there, if you have relatives who are there or are travelling there, to look at our travel advice.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of members of China’s People’s Armed Police (PAP) could be seen Thursday conducting exercises at a sports stadium in the border city of Shenzhen, as the U.S. State Department expressed concern that they could be deployed across the border in Hong Kong to break up protests racking the city, Reuters reported.
“Lots of Canadians and other local Hong Kong people are concerned about the general safety because we’re not sure whether we can still trust the police when we are walking down the street,” Chan said.
“We’re just trying very hard to maintain things as normal as we can.” Chan himself said he took part in some protests back in June and July, but those were at a time when the demonstrations were “kind of approved by police,” he said. “But for the recent ones, I guess, it’s kind of like getting more and more high risk.”
“I tried to stay away from police as much as possible, at least 100 metres away, because I was afraid,” said. “A lot of times, I think they’re hurting people on purpose.” The man said that his relatives in Hong Kong tell him he’s lucky he moved to Canada. Meanwhile, a lot of his friends are asking how to apply for immigration, he said.
Donna Mah, a Canadian who has lived in Hong Kong since 1992, said while she doesn’t live near where the protests have been happening, she has noticed that people in general are more anxious. She said she’s long planned to leave Hong Kong but has been postponing the move. The recent political strife, however, has made her re-evaluate.
“It may have to happen sooner,” she said.She said they believe that the young demonstrators don’t understand that they are part of China — and are just making things worse. “Talk to younger people they feel a bit helpless,” she said. “I support the fact they want to maintain their freedom. I am surprised, shocked at the government response.”
Mimi Lee, a financial adviser living in Toronto who has organized picnics in solidarity with the Hong Kong protesters, said the majority of people living here who came from Hong Kong feel “fairly helpless.”
