(Bloomberg) -- Justin Trudeau's government is easing immigration requirements for Hong Kong residents to settle in Canada in response to China's crackdown in the former British colony.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino laid out the government's plan Thursday, which would target young, educated Hong Kongers. It includes the creation of a new three-year open work permit for recent graduates and shortening eligibility for permanent residency to one year.
“The people-to-people ties between Canada and Hong Kong are strong and deep, and these new measures celebrate those long-standing relationships,” Mendicino said in an emailed statement. “Newcomers from Hong Kong, including students, have made outstanding contributions to Canada, and the changes we're announcing today will strengthen our relationship.”
The announcement comes at a low point in Canada-China relations, which have been fraught ever since the 2018 arrest of a top Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. executive in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition request. Hong Kong is the latest flashpoint and is home to around 300,000 Canadian citizens.
On Wednesday, Trudeau's foreign minister condemned Beijing's decision to allow the disqualification of lawmakers it deems insufficiently loyal from the territory's legislature. The U.K. followed suit Thursday, summoning China's ambassador to protest the move, saying it breaks the Sino-British agreement that preceded Hong Kong's return to China in 1997.
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To qualify for the new Canadian work permit, Hong Kong residents must have recently graduated from a university or other post-secondary institution. The Trudeau government will also expedite study permit applications.
Hong Kongers already in Canada will now be eligible to apply for permanent residency sooner, provided they meet language and education requirements and have worked for a year in Canada.
Mendicino said Canadians in Hong Kong and their family members are able to return to Canada at any time, and that his department would expedite document requests in these cases.
Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a national security law in June in an effort to quell dissent in Hong Kong, prompting retaliation from the West. Canada was the first country to revoke its extradition treaty with the semi-autonomous region and also banned some military exports.
“Canada remains deeply concerned about China's passage of the new national security law,” Mendicino told reporters Thursday. “Actions such as these demonstrate a clear disregard for the Basic Law and have the consequential effect of eroding human rights in Hong Kong. In this time of trial, Canada will stand with the people of Hong Kong.”
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