The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is reportedly sending nearly 300 members to the upcoming World Police and Fire Games (WPFG), sparking concerns among China watchers.
As reported by Vancouver Is Awesome, an anonymous duty officer from the public relations wing of the HKPF revealed that 287 members are being dispatched to Winnipeg for the event slated to take place from July 28 to Aug. 6.
The recent move by the Hong Kong police to issue arrest warrants for eight pro-democracy activists raised alarms among human rights activists. The pro-democracy activists fled the region after Beijing’s rubber-stamp legislature implemented its national security law in the city on June 30, 2020, which was introduced to address a massive protest the previous year. While the law is said to target so-called secession, subversion of state power, and collusion with foreign forces, it has been used to shut down outspoken media outlets and arrest around 260 pro-democracy figures. Dennis Kwok, a former politician in Hong Kong who was born in Canada, is among the wanted activists.
Given the recent incident, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) reiterated its opposition to the regime’s attempts to silence its critics in Canada.
“We reiterate that the Hong Kong authorities have no jurisdiction in applying the law within our borders,” GAC spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said in a statement to Vancouver Is Awesome. “Canada strongly opposes any attempt to intimidate or silence anyone residing in Canada.”
Ms. MacLeod previously told The Epoch Times in an email statement that Canada is “gravely concerned” by the arrest warrants issued for the democratic activists, and pledged to continue to call on Hong Kong and Chinese central authorities to respect and uphold rights and freedoms guaranteed under Hong Kong’s Basic Law.
Daniel Stanton, former executive manager at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and current director of the national security program at the University of Ottawa, recently shared a news article on Twitter. In his post, he drew attention to the presence of China’s secret police stations in Canada.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, senior fellow at the University of Ottawa, also expressed outrage on social media. In her recent testimony before a House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Ms. McCuaig-Johnston expressed concern over former special rapporteur David Johnston’s lack of understanding of Chinese-Canadian communities’ dynamics after he decided against launching a public inquiry into Beijing’s foreign interference in Canada.
The Hong Kong police have faced criticism for their handling of the city’s pro-democracy movements in 2019. Accusations of brutality and excessive use of force were directed at the police during large-scale demonstrations and clashes with protesters. Incidents of alleged violence, tear gas deployment in crowded areas, and accusations of excessive force during arrests drew international attention and condemnation.
Police in full gear fire tear gas to disperse the crowd in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on Aug. 4, 2019. (David Pang/The Epoch Times)
The Epoch Times reached out to the WPFG for comment but didn’t receive an immediate response. Event organizers told the Vancouver news outlet that they couldn’t disclose participant details due to privacy considerations.
The WPFG celebrates firefighters and law enforcement globally, aiming to attract 8,500 athletes from 50 countries to Winnipeg. The 2011 New York Games had over 16,000 athletes from 67 countries, and the Chengdu, China, Games in 2019 had over 10,000 competitors.
