Former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan praised Beijing's new Hong Kong national security law, saying that it will bring stability to the city. The law has drawn international condemnation for threatening Hong Kong's autonomy through the one party, two systems principle.
Chan qualified his statement by saying that there many be initial issues as the society moves to adopt to the new law, but added that he expects the people of Hong Kong will understand that his is meant to get the region out of its current predicament and back on the right path, according to the Epoch Times.
The law says that one may serve up to a life sentence in prison for acts of "subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces." It also gives way for Beijing to install a security agency that would have complete control over Hong Kong.
Ottawa responded to the new law by restricting exports of goods to Hong Kong and barred its extradition treaty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added that he was "extremely concerned" about what is happening in Hong Kong.
US President Donald Trump referred to the new law as a tragedy for the world. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deemed the new law a "clear and serious breach" of China's one country, two systems government.
A coalition of over 900 parliamentarians from 443 countries or territories condemned Beijing's new law, referring to it as "a comprehensive assault on the city's autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms," Epoch Times wrote.
Chan was under a close eye by the Ontario government in 2010 by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service over concern that he was too close with the Chinese Consulate in Toronto and feared that he may have been susceptible to the whims of Beijing.
Chan had previously spoken at a rally that was organized by pro-Beijing groups to denounce the Hong Kong protesters.
Chan mentioned in an interview that the Hong Kong protesters have used excessive violence and that the Hong Kong authorities have exercised restraint, adding that if the same thing were happening in the West, police would have fired ammunition at them.
He has also placed the blame for the protests on "outside forces," saying: “If it wasn’t for a deep-pocketed organization in here, or a deep-pocketed push from the outside, there wouldn’t be such a massive unrest in Hong Kong."
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