#Newspaper #Opinion
Hong Kong’s Chinese-Canadians are a community in limbo

//On the eve of the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China, Beijing passed a national security law in Hong Kong. Some observers see the move as a sign that Beijing is tightening its grip on the city, which has been marred by political unrest and conflict over the past year.

//Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has voiced concern over the situation in Hong Kong, pointing out that 300,000 Canadians currently live in the territory. Indeed, after the U.S., Hong Kong has the largest community of Canadians living abroad.

//However, the nationality of these naturalized Canadians in the territory is a thorny issue

//The reason is that China’s Nationality Law appears to reject the idea that first-generation Canadians from Hong Kong and their children are in fact Canadian if they live in Hong Kong. 

//Unlike Canada, China does not recognize dual citizenship. Acquiring foreign nationality does not negate Chinese nationality in the absence of “settling abroad.” And children born abroad to Chinese nationals are also considered Chinese nationals.

//In any event, Canada’s international obligations under the 1930 Hague Convention on Certain Questions Relating to the Conflict of Nationality Law would prevent Ottawa from interfering with the treatment of Chinese-Canadians in Hong Kong.

//Mr. Trudeau has been facing twin pressures: to stand firm against China and to give in to this “hostage diplomacy.”

//Hong Kong’s Chinese-Canadians may be eyeing a return home in the wake of Beijing’s new security law. But if they assume they won’t be affected by political developments because of their Canadian passports, they should think again.

Source: (23-Jul)
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-hong-kongs-chinese-canadians-are-a-community-in-limbo/

#Canada #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #ChineseCanadians