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Bill Chu, the founder of the Canadians for Reconciliation Society, said the advertisements are a way of “buying influence” within the Chinese community.

“All of this info is trying to identify local Chinese-Canadians with Chinese in China,” he said.

The advertisement blames “radicals” for violence after Hong Kong police clashed with protesters on June 12.

Photo by Anthony Kwan / Getty Images

Fenella Sung, a member of the Canadian Friends of Hong Kong, who helped organize recent Vancouver demonstrations, said the newspaper ads are “propaganda.”

“I think it’s a very careful way of distorting the truth so as to advance their own argument,” she said. “If you want to support whatever government … it’s your right. You have your choice. But don’t give us wrong facts.”

The advertisement was organized and paid for by the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, an umbrella group of more than 100 business and cultural associations whose names also appear on the page.

Association executive Jun Ing said the ad cost roughly $3,000.

He said it was not intended to promote the government’s view but to support “peace in Hong Kong,” and that there was no ulterior motive involved in taking it out.

He stressed the extradition bill was a “divisive issue within the community.” He pointed out many of the association’s members have their roots in Hong Kong.

“It is surprising to me that people think there cannot be more than one opinion,” he said.

Andrew Lai, the general manager of Sing Tao, said the newspaper did not take a position on the protests, and also ran ads that were supportive of the protesters.