Would you invite a rattle snake into your house?–Canada did. Part 2
(1) China and its partners (triad organized crime, HK tycoons and the Chinese Intelligence Service) initially bought Canadian real estate instead of high tech and other higher profile Canadian interests so as to avoid setting off national security alarm bells in Canada. However, significant portions of some large Canadian urban centres soon became the property of Chinese entrepreneurs. For example, As of 1997, Li Ka-Shing owned one sixth to one third of downtown Vancouver. The triads, the tycoons and the Chinese Intelligence Service have learned that the quickest way to gain influence in Canada is to give money to the two main political parties : the Liberals and Conservatives. China remains one of the greatest ongoing threats to Canada’s national security and Canadian industry.
(2) With the announcement of the return of Hong Kong to China, a large immigration and capital flow began from Asia to Canada. Between January 1990 and March 1997, 233,077 HK residents immigrated to Canada. Of these, 70,000 went to Canada in the “Entrepreneur” or “Investor” category. Canadian authorities detected the presence of Chinese organized crime elements in these groups. Some gained Canadian citizenship. Some Mainland Chinese who were closely affiliated with the Chinese Intelligence (SPY) Service also took advantage of the “Entrepreneur” and “Investor” categories to emigrate and “invest” in Canada. A few even bought or established companies in Canada through family members who already had Canadian citizenship.
(3) As of 1997, HK had 100,000 people with Canadian citizenship. Most were born in HK. In 1997, over 500,000 HK people were living in Canada. Over half of the 66,000 persons who left HK in 1996 came to Canada. An additional 17,000 students from HK were also here, about 20% of all International students here. Triad officers and their associates live here. They invest in companies and launder the profits derived from criminal activities while securing their assets out of HK and getting Canadian passports. They use their Canadian acquisitions to engage in intelligence (spying) activities, intimidate individuals and identify potential sources and facilitate (secret?) visits of Chinese delegations on behalf of China.
(4) Triads, HK investors and people close to China’s leadership have been identified as working in concert with the Chinese government to gain influence in Canada. At the same time, the Chinese Intelligence Service used their access to Canadian business through exchanges and technical or student visas to steal classified and technological information. They have set up shell companies to pursue their economic and technological operations. The new triumvirate is HK business people, the triads and the Beijing leadership.
(5) As of 1997, China, the triads and HK tycoons had bought several of Canada’s brokerage houses. (Wood Gundy, Gordon Capital and Merrill Lynch) This has given them even more economic and political leverage in Canada and more influence.
(6) China has business ties to Semi-Tech, a large information technology company based in Markham, Ontario. By the mid-1990’s, it had revenues of $3.5 Billion. Semi-tech owned Canada Systems Corp which had contracts with various federal government departments and had applied to develop the Canadian On-line Secure Information and Communication System which would link External Affairs, the RCMP, CSIS and National Defence!! By good fortune, this project was suspended because of lack of government financial support, but it showed the potential danger of nationally sensitive information about Canada falling into the hands of China. (P.13)
(7) Tai Foong International sells sea food around the world and has offices in Canada and the U.S. Its headquarters are in Mississauga. It is also believed to be involved in importing heroin from Hong Kong into Canada. It is affiliated with the Kun Lok triad. (P.15)
(8) Hong Kong organized crime controls the Chinese entertainment industry in Hong Kong and has made significant investments in the Chinese-Canadian language media– including television. Chinese-Canadian pro-democracy groups who feared China’s control of news that is broadcast in Canada about China, made submissions to the CRTC to block the sale of a major Chinese-Canadian television company called China Vision to a company affiliated with the Sun Yee On triad. Later various groups of Chinese origin opposed the purchase of China Vision by Fairchild Communications Ltd. which they believed would face pressure from the Chinese government to avoid broadcasting news that might offend the Chinese government. The CRTC, however, permitted the sale to Fairchild which promotes a pro-China view in the world and carries a pro-China bias in Canada’s Chinese language media. Ironically, Thomas Fung who has a major role at Fairchild, has bought a significant number of shares in Hollinger and Southam, two English language press giants in Canada. (P. 14)
(Ed. Note : This purchase extended Mainland China’s influence even over the news that Canada’s majority population reads and hears!!)
(9) The Sidewinder report is based on facts, classified other reports and open sources available up to 1997. It does not claim to provide a full survey of China’s infiltration of Canada to that point. Obviously, China’s infiltration of Canada has gone far beyond the events cited in the Sidewinder Report. Canadians should be demanding that the RCMP and CSIS provide an update of the Sidewinder report.
