Canada restricts dealings with Hong Kong over new security law

By Paul James, Hana Mae Nassar, and The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Canada is suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong as part of a package of responses to the new security law China has imposed on the territory, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says.

In a statement, Champagne says Canada will also treat sensitive goods being exported to Hong Kong as if they were being sent to mainland China.

“Canada will not permit the export of sensitive military items to Hong Kong,” he adds.


China imposed strict new controls on Hong Kong this week, in what Champagne calls a violation of the “one country, two systems” philosophy that was supposed to last 50 years after Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997.

“Hong Kong’s role as a global hub was built on that foundation,” Champagne says. “Without it, Canada is forced to reassess existing arrangements.”

Champagne’s statement says Hong Kong’s place in the global economy was based on that promise and needs to be reassessed.

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.

“We will continue to support the many connections between Canada and Hong Kong, while also standing up for its people,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. “In the days and weeks to come, we’re also looking at additional measures, including around immigration.”

Watch: Canada to restrict dealings with Hong Kong over new security law, says Trudeau

Trudeau says his government will be looking at possible changes in its immigration policies for people in Hong Kong. This comes amid growing pressure to provide people in Hong Kong with expedited immigration to help them flee the city, out of fears they can now be extradited to face trial and prison in mainland China.

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