Canada Calling? Hong Kong Residents Shift Billions Abroad After Clampdown

Canada Calling? Hong Kong Residents Shift Billions Abroad After Clampdown
The Toronto skyline on the city’s waterfront on Oct. 17, 2017. Reuters/Mark Blinch/File Photo
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TORONTO—As China imposed a sweeping national security law in Hong Kong last year after massive protests, residents of the city moved tens of billions of dollars across the globe to Canada, where thousands are hoping to forge a new future.

Capital flows out of Hong Kong banks reaching Canada rose to their highest levels on record last year, with about C$43.6 billion ($34.8 billion) in electronic funds transfers (EFT) recorded by FINTRAC, Canada’s anti-money laundering agency, which receives reports on transfers above C$10,000.