Human rights activists have criticized the University of British Columbia (UBC) for renting out a classroom to the Government of Hong Kong for a recruitment exam relating to the 2020 National Security Law (NSL) on December 7. The Chinese Canadian Concern Group on the Chinese Communist Party’s Human Rights Violations expressed disapproval in a letter to UBC’s President, stating that successful candidates for the exam are required to swear allegiance to Hong Kong and Beijing governments. The NSL criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign organizations in response to protests in Hong Kong in 2019, suppressing fundamental rights such as free speech and freedom of the press.
The organization criticized the NSL as a draconian law that suppresses basic rights and persecutes dissent, expressing concerns about the further implementation of the law on Canadian soil through recruitment activities. Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan highlighted that the Chinese government is trying to recruit individuals to work in Hong Kong and China, emphasizing the need for ethical standards for organizations renting out spaces to governments known for human rights violations. Kwan suggested that UBC should have provided warnings about the NSL to those taking the exam and expressed disappointment in the university’s response, calling it inadequate and suggesting that UBC should consider broader implications beyond basic rental requirements.
UBC responded to the criticism by stating that it does not endorse the activities, views, or positions of groups renting its spaces, emphasizing its role in administering space rentals and ensuring compliance with established policies. The university stated that the event on December 7 did not violate any laws, regulations, or UBC policies, defending its decision to rent out the space. Kwan expressed disappointment in UBC’s response, believing that as a global institution, the university should consider the implications of renting to a government with a history of human rights violations and take a stand against authoritarian influence.
While the reasons behind recruiting Canadians for roles in Hong Kong and China remain unclear, there is concern that the Chinese government may be attempting to enforce the NSL in other countries like Canada. The Chinese Canadian Concern Group called on UBC to commit to ensuring that no similar exams take place on the university’s property in the future, urging institutions like UBC to uphold democratic values and protect Canadian sovereignty in the face of increasing threats from foreign authoritarian influence. The situation has sparked a debate about the ethical considerations surrounding renting spaces to governments with questionable human rights records and the responsibility of institutions like UBC to take a stand against such practices in order to uphold democratic principles and protect individual freedoms.
