Page 1 of 2

In response to a finews.asia inquiry, Canadian financiers stayed quiet about the chilling remarks recently made by a Chinese envoy about the «good health and safety» of companies and 300,000 nationals from the North American country.

In an effort to discourage any efforts by Ottawa to grant political asylum to pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong after it accepted two dissidents, China’s ambassador to Canada launched an alarming remark that placed private companies and individuals in the verbal crossfire.

«If the Canadian side really cares about the stability and prosperity in Hong Kong,» Cong Pei Wu said last week.

«[A]nd really cares about the good health and safety of those 300,000 Canadian passport holders in Hong Kong, and a large number of Canadian companies operating in Hong Kong, you should support those efforts to fight violent crimes.» 

Canadian Financiers Stay Mum

Hong Kong is home to around 200 Canadian companies, many of which use the city as its regional base in Asia. And amongst them, multiple major banks and insurers from Canada have a strong presence with deep financial roots built with the mainland and Hong Kong diaspora over the last few decades. 

When contacted by finews.asia, spokespeople from the Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal and Sun Life all declined to comment on the matter.

Canadian Business Position

Canada’s broader business community continues to express the strong desire for continued cooperation with the city, evidenced by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong's (CanCham HK) recently published recommendations in response to a government policy address.

They included measures to help Hong Kong regain its international reputation; improve access by Canadian issuers seeking to raise capital; and build closer ties with the U.S. via the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – an alliance which President Donald Trump has previously withdrawn from but subsequently indicated desire for potentially rejoining.

When contacted, a spokesperson for CanCham HK also declined to comment on the matter.

Justin Trudeau: «Stand Up Loudly and Clearly»