Canadian expats consider leaving Hong Kong amid political turmoil, safety concerns

Safety concerns and thepolitical turmoilplaying out in Hong Kong haveat least some Canadian expatriatescontemplating a move back.

The Canadian government updated itsadvisory about travel toHong Kongearlier this weekamidcontinuing protests by pro-democracy activists. Hong Kong was returned to China from Britain in 1997 as a Special Administrative Regionwith the promise of a high degree of autonomy, although many in the city say Beijing has tightened its grip in recent years.

"Definitely, there are more and more Canadians that are considering going back to Canada if the Hong Kong situationis getting worse,"Canadian Edward Chan, who lives in Hong Kong with his family, told CBC News Network.

"I think the biggest concern right now is we're not too certain about what is going to happen, how the Hong Kong governmentis going to deal with the situation."

Demonstrators and police have clashed violently in recent days after protesters took over the airport, resulting in two days of flightcancellations. Demonstrationsstarted last spring when Hong Kong's government put forward a bill that would allow Hong Kong citizens to be sent to China for trial. Theycontinued through the summer even after the controversial bill was shelved.

'Turbulent moment in the world'

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland recently told a news conference in Toronto that this is a "turbulent moment" in the world. She said the government is working on contingency plans to help Canadians in Hong Kong.

"I would urge all Canadians, if you live in Hong Kong, if you are travelling there, if you have relatives who are there or are travelling there, to look at our travel advice."

Meanwhile, hundreds of members of China's People's Armed Police (PAP) could be seenThursday conducting exercisesat a sports stadium in the border city of Shenzhen, as the U.S. State Department expressed concern that they could be deployed across the border in Hong Kong to break up protests rackingthe city, Reuters reported.

"Lots of Canadians and other local Hong Kong peopleare concernedabout the general safety because we're not sure whether we can still trust the police when we are walking down the street," Chan said in his interview with CBC News Networkearlier this week.

"We're just trying very hard to maintain things as normal as we can."

Chanhimselfsaid he took part in some protests back in June and July, but those were at a timewhen the demonstrations were "kind of approved by police," he said.

"But for the recent ones, I guess, it's kind of like getting more and more high risk."

One Toronto man whorecently returned from Hong Kong told CBC's Greg Ross thathe was among thosewho marched in the streets in recent weeks.

"I tried to stay away from police as much as possible, at least 100 metres away, because I was afraid," said the man, whoCBC News agreed not to identify out of safety concerns for his safety. "A lot of times, I think they're hurting people on purpose."

The mansaid that his relatives in Hong Kongtell him he's lucky he moved to Canada. Meanwhile, a lot of his friends are asking how to apply for immigration, he said.

Donna Mah, a Canadian who has lived in Hong Kong since 1992, said while she doesn't live near where the protests have been happening, she has noticed that people in general are more anxious.

She said she's long planned to leave Hong Kongbut has been postponing the move. The recent political strife, however, has made her re-evaluate.

"It may have to happen sooner," she said.

Mah said the area she lives in is very pro-China. Many whosupport the government are elderly residents who believe the young protesters should just accept how things are, Mah said.

WATCH | Protesters and police clashed at Hong Kong's international airport on Tuesday.

Police, protesters clash at Hong Kong airport

5 years ago

Duration 0:59

Police and protesters clashed at Hong Kong's international airport Tuesday evening after flights were disrupted for a second day.

She said they believe that the young demonstrators don't understand that they are part of China and are just making things worse.

"Talk to younger people they feel a bit helpless," she said. "I support the fact they want to maintain their freedom. I am surprised, shocked at the government response."

Mimi Lee, a financial adviser living in Toronto who has organized picnics in solidarity with the Hong Kong protesters, said the majority of people living here who came from Hong Kong feel "fairly helpless."

"We are angry. We are frustratedto see all these things happening from where we came from," she told CBC's Aarti Pole. "And we have no clue what else we ... can do. And then we don't know where it's going."

Hong Kongers in Canada are concernedabout the safety of theirfriends andfamily, she said. But she also acknowledged that many friends and family membershold different viewson the issues.

"Last timewhen I went back to Hong Kong I sat down with friends and within about five, 10 minutes you can feelwhat's their standpoint. Then Ijust geared my topics away."

"There's really no point trying to argue orlosing friends over something that I can't see how I can change," Lee said. "When it actually gets to them then they will make some changes."