VANCOUVER—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should get his “head examined” if he doesn’t think he needs to speak up about the situation in Hong Kong, says an official for Hong Kong’s Democratic Party.

Emily Lau, a pro-democracy and human rights activist, is the chair of the international affairs committee of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party and served 25 years on the city’s legislative council. Lau has been in Canada since last week, here to speak at a security forum in Halifax and accept the John McCain prize for public leadership on behalf of the people of Hong Kong. She said the silence from the Liberal government on events there is concerning.

“There are priorities and this one is a pressing issue, you see it on the news every day,” Lau said. “So, if the prime minister cannot find time to say something about it, his head needs examining.”

About 300,000 Canadians live in Hong Kong, but a recent electoral victory after months of unrest and riots in the city was not commented on by Trudeau.

Last week in Halifax, Lau took aim at the Canadian government, alleging it allows business to determine its China policy. In an interview with Star Vancouver she reiterated her worry that Canada’s government is putting money ahead of democracy and human rights.

She said many in Canada have told her they are not happy with Ottawa’s approach to China, especially since the detention of diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor after the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou on a warrant from the United States last year.

Lau said Canada has appeared “timid and craven” toward mainland China, warning such an approach will not work. She said Canada’s leaders must stand up for what they believe in, including aggressively demanding the release of the two men. But she said there’s an obstacle.

“I think the business lobby here is quite strong and they want to do business and so they put pressure on the politicians and the government,” Lau said.

In 2018, China represented about five per cent of all Canada’s exports, representing about $28 billion according to Global Affairs data. At the same time, Canada imported about $75 billion worth of goods from China.

The protests began in June after the Hong Kong government’s attempt to institute legislation allowing for a speedy extradition to China for some crimes, but many felt it was paving the way for Beijing to arrest its critics in the special administrative region.

Last week, after months of violence in the streets of the former British colony by police, protesters and gangs allegedly hired by the Chinese government, citizens of the semi-autonomous region cleaned the city’s local councils out of pro-Beijing members during an election. Hong Kong was returned to China from the United Kingdom in 1997.

After last week’s elections, just one of 18 district councils is now under the control of pro-Beijing members. Ninety per cent of the 452 district council seats went to pro-democracy candidates. Hong Kong residents cannot vote directly for their leader and the council elections are the closest they get to choosing leadership.

Hardening Canada’s approach with China regarding Hong Kong, Kovrig and Spavor isn’t the only advice Lau had for the prime minister.

She said Canada should also be demanding reciprocity from China. She said current trade practices and things such as access for academics in mainland China are not equal and the Canadian government needs to take a stand on the issue.

“You have to have reciprocal treatment, if China is not prepared to give it, then forget it,” she said, adding: “And if you forget them, are you people going to starve? Are you going to die? I just don’t understand.”

Worries about Beijing’s attempts to influence decision-makers around the world, including Canada, have been front and centre in recent months.

Lau said Canada’s government needs to be more in step with its citizens. She said trading with China is unavoidable, but standing up for Canada’s interests should be more important than avoiding the consequences of upsetting Beijing. Ottawa needs the “courage to take the consequences” she said.

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“The Canadians I’ve met, I think they are prepared to take the consequences,” she said. “Don’t always pass the buck to them, (by saying) ‘Oh they just want to make money, they don’t want to be unemployed.’ That’s rubbish.”

/With files from the Associated Press

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