Shomporko Desk:-Canada is suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong as a major aspect of a bundle of reactions to the new security law China has forced on the locale, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.
Canada will also treat sensitive goods being traded to Hong Kong as though they were being sent to terrain China.
“Effective immediately, Canada will not permit the export of sensitive military items to Hong Kong,” Trudeau said in a news conference.
China imposed strict new controls on Hong Kong this week, intended to give Beijing more capacity to police anti-government protests and other activities it considers the work of hostile foreign powers.
Trudeau suggested the new law is a danger to the “one country, systems” philosophy that was intended to closing 50 years after Britain lower back Hong Kong to China in 1997.
Canada’s relationship with Hong Kong, including freer trade and travel than is allowed between Canada and mainland China, depends on that principle, Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a separate statement.
“This process demonstrated disregard for Hong Kong’s basic law and the high degree of autonomy promised for Hong Kong under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework,” Champagne said.
“Hong Kong’s role as a global hub was built on that foundation. Without it, Canada is forced to reassess existing agreements.”
About 300,000 Canadians live in Hong Kong.
“We will continue to support the many connections between Canada and Hong Kong while also standing up for its people,” Trudeau said.
Canada’s moves follow measures taken by the United States earlier this week to tighten trade with Hong Kong and stop selling it military equipment.
Britain announced that up to 2.6 million Hong Kong residents will be able to move to the United Kingdom for up to five years and ultimately seek citizenship.
Those are holders of special overseas British passports that have had much more limited rights attached to them until now. Trudeau hinted that something similar might be in the works in Canada.
“In the days and weeks to come, we’re also looking at additional measures, including around immigration,” he said.
The relationship between Canada and China remains extremely strained. China is holding two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on national-security charges that Canada considers retaliation for the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in 2018 on a U.S. extradition warrant.
Photo credit: PTI
News source: The Canadian Press
