“很难想像香港在过去一年情况的恶化。中国自从强行为香港在去年7月1日定立国安法以来,不到一年时间,香港的「两制」已经盪然无存,人民丧失最基本的人权和自由。
在残暴中共的直接管治下,专业中立的公务员体系被彻底党化。他们要宣誓效忠政府而非效忠人民。香港的教育亦受到重大的衝击,有关民主权利的书本被下架,一些中国历史被删除,学童由三岁开始要学习国安法。
当人大定立国安法时,中国和香港特区政府表示该法没有追溯力,只针对分裂国家、颠覆国家政权、组织恐怖活动及勾结外国势力,以及会根据普通法推行。但很快便已经见到,政府把国安法伸延至不同的角落,普通法被架空凌驾,就连民事诉讼也可以被国安处调查。
香港的选举制度被重大修改,所有民主元素被阉割,候选人要由国安官员拣选,参与民主派初选的候选人被辑捕检控,呼吁投白票将成为刑事罪行,政府完全不容有异见。
香港人再没有自由参选、集会游行示威的权利,就连在街上举起白纸的表达自由都没有。即使我们在加拿大表达支持香港人,亦会违反国安法及可以被通缉。
香港的一国两制被北京的高压统治打个稀巴烂,造成大批港人移民出走。
中国曾经向香港人和国际社会承诺「一国两制」让港人能够继续享有基本人权和自由。李柱铭、黎智英、何俊仁、李卓人、吴霭仪、杨森等香港民主派元老及自由斗士被判监,标志著香港一国两制的终结,东方之珠已经失去灵魂。
加拿大必须马上协助收容在香港面对迫害的难民,我们亦要与盟国共同追究问责。中英联合声明作为联合国登记的条约,中国有责任遵守,持续违约必须负担责任。”
Statement by MP Jenny Kwan Regarding the Sentencing of Veteran Democracy Activists and the Deteriorating Political Situation in Hong Kong
“It is hard to fathom how badly the political situation has deteriorated in Hong Kong in less than one year. Ever since China unilaterally imposed the National Security Law in Hong Kong on July 1st, 2020, Hong Kong’s autonomy under “one country, two systems” has been annihilated, and its people have lost even the most basic of human rights and freedoms.
Under Communist China’s oppressive regime, the once non-partisan civil service in Hong Kong has been completely politicized. Their first loyalty is not to the people they serve but to the government. They are all required to swear an oath of allegiance to the government. Those in the education sector have also been targeted. There have been numerous reports of censorship of various literature with any reference to democratic rights and erasing of historical facts. The promotion of the Chinese Security Law is now embedded in the education system for students as young as three.
When the National People’s Congress enacted the National Security Law, both the Chinese and Hong Kong government clearly stated that the law cannot be retroactively applied, and will only target acts of sedition, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. They also stated that the law will be enacted in accordance with common law. Since the passage of the National Security Law, we have seen multiple examples that contradict these assertions. The reality is that the National Security Law severely undermines Hong Kong’s common law legal system. It's far reaching as its authority extends into both the public and private spheres. Even civil cases can be subjected to national security investigation.
With the recent overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system, it is clear that all democratic elements of the electoral process in Hong Kong have been nullified. Under this new system, all candidates must be vetted by national security officials. The mass arrest and charges laid against pro-democracy candidates who had participated in the primaries of the postponed Legislative Council election is a scare tactic to silence any dissenting voices. The regime is so intolerant that there is pending legislation that will deem the act of encouraging people to cast blank ballots in protest as a criminal offence.
The people of Hong Kong no longer have the freedom to stand for elected office and they have lost their right to peaceful assembly. Their voice has been robbed as their right to the freedom of expression are also eliminated. In fact, holding up a blank piece of paper on the street in protest could be deemed to be in violation of the National Security Law. The National Security Law even applies in foreign countries around the globe, including Canada. In other words, Canadians who are in support of Hongkongers are deemed to be in violation.
Beijing’s authoritative suppression has smashed to pieces Hong Kong’s autonomy under the promise of “one country, two systems”, leading to a massive exodus of Hongkongers emigrating due to the loss of their freedoms and fear for their children’s future.
Today with the sentencing of veteran democracy activists such as Martin Lee, Jimmy Lai, Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-wan, Margaret Ng, Yeung Sum, among others for standing up for the freedoms that were promised to all Hongkongers and the international community by the Chinese government, the heart of Hong Kong's “one country, two systems” has been pierced with a death nail. The sentencing of these freedom fighters marks a dark day where the "Pearl of the Orient" has lost its soul. Canada and its allies must unite and redouble every effort to support of the people of Hong Kong.
Canada must immediately act to bring in asylum measures for Hongkongers who fear political persecution. We must also work with allied countries to form a strong, unified response and demand accountability from China. The Sino-British Joint Declaration is a legally valid international treaty registered by the United Nations, which China has the obligation to uphold. Breaching the promises of the treaty cannot continue without accountability and consequences. ” |