Chinese Canadian groups support security law for HK

Members of Chinese Canadian communities have expressed their support for a law by China's National People's Congress to bolster security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 

The National Congress of Chinese Canadians (NCCC) said in a statement that the legislation, which was approved Thursday, would provide protection for the public and solidify Hong Kong's status as an international financial center. 

"Without a peaceful and stable environment, prosperity and development would be impossible to talk about, and Hong Kong's economic status would be difficult to preserve," read the statement. "The rule of law not only guarantees individuals and institutions, but also creates a fair environment for business."

"The Western countries, without exception, have their own national security laws and should not have a double standard with Hong Kong's legislation," David Choi, executive chair of NCCC, told China Daily. "I believe Hong Kong will continue being a society that respects freedom of speech and that everyone has the right to opinions." 

The "majority of the silent" in Hong Kong took to the streets recently to express support for the law.

As of Tuesday, more than 1.1 million people had participated in the signing of the "National Security Legislation" at street stations and on the internet. Support for national security legislation has moved to the mainstream of public opinion in Hong Kong.

"This fact should be adequately respected, and the government should respond," said Choi, who is originally from Hong Kong and is a businessman in Vancouver.

The Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations — a group of more than 100 Chinese societies in the Greater Toronto Area — also supported the legislation. 

"As the world's largest-population country, China's stability and development have a decisive influence on global peace and economy," said Weng Guoning, chairman of CTCCO. "At the same time, Hong Kong's prosperity and stability are also the common aspirations of overseas Chinese around the world." 

The organizations launched a rally in Canada and initiated a proposal for overseas Chinese supporting peace and stability in Hong Kong after recurring, violent protests last summer, Weng said. 

Ping Tan, a lawyer and president of the Chinese Canadians for China's Reunification, told China Daily that the intervention and manipulation by foreign forces in Hong Kong is "unacceptable".

"Hong Kong's government should have had such legislation for a long time, but it has been blocked by the opposition, which has led to a big gap in Hong Kong's national security," Tan said. 

"Burning the flag, hitting government departments, overt violence against the police, destruction of property in public facilities; no country can allow such behavior to endanger national security. It is absurd to say that the central government has no right to legislate," Tan said, adding that the new law is "very timely".