A former activist who relocated to the United States to escape transnational repression urges Ottawa MPs to do more: The Bureau.

By Sam Cooper | The Bureau

Sam Cooper’s interview with Frances Hui available to watch here

“Canada has an opportunity to lead by example. We must protect individuals fleeing persecution and uphold democratic principles against the tide of authoritarianism spreading across borders.”

Summary

Frances Hui, a former activist from Hong Kong, testifying to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR), recounts facing death threats, harassment, and surveillance orchestrated by individuals working on behalf of Beijing’s global interference arm, the United Front.

In an interview with investigative journalist Sam Cooper for The Bureau, Frances shares her experience of being constantly watched and threatened, even in a democratic country like the U.S., where she relocated to seek asylum. She emphasizes the psychological impact of such surveillance and the mistrust it creates within dissident communities.

Frances became an activist at a young age, inspired by the pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong, and joined Scolarism, a student organization founded by Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kong’s best known pro-democracy activists. Frances’s involvement escalated during Hong Kong’s 2019 Umbrella Movement, leading her to advocate for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials for human rights abuses.

As a result, Frances faced severe repercussions, including a bounty of one million Hong Kong dollars for her arrest under Hong Kong’s national security law for colluding with foreign forces.

Frances believes Canada is particularly vulnerable to foreign interference and transnational repression due to the country’s large diaspora community. She notes the lack of robust laws and policies to counter these efforts, such as a registry for foreign agents.

Frances recounted the actions of a Chinese immigrant, now indicted in Massachusetts, who monitored her activities in Boston and reported them to Chinese police and United Front officials. The individual, she said, spied on members and leaders of Boston-area Chinese family associations, community organizations, and anti-PRC dissidents, organized counter-protests, and even issued violent threats, including a plan to shoot Frances “in the face.”

Her testimony underscores how Beijing’s proxies in Western nations coordinate efforts to target dissidents at key geopolitical moments. Frances points out that the man who targeted her—a naturalized U.S. citizen—”was also one of the individuals behind a coordinated global campaign against rallies worldwide supporting the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.”

“This repression is carried out by multiple people under the direction of the United Front,” said Frances. “Even though U.S. authorities identified the man stalking me, he has left the country and will never face justice. This was terrifying for me, and much more needs to be done.” [For more on this, see: ‘Shoot Her In The Face’: Democracy Activist Describes Beijing Proxy Attacks In Boston].

In conversation with Sam Cooper, Frances discusses the role of the United Front Work Department in China’s repression apparatus, a secretive Chinese Communist Party agency that coordinates influence operations through the infiltration of communities and associations to monitor and control activities. Frances also highlights the digital aspect of transnational repression, where social media platforms are monitored, and disinformation is leveraged to create chaos and polarize societies.

Given that perpetrators often operate across borders, Frances calls for international collaboration to tackle these issues globally. She emphasizes the need for governments to protect dissidents and uphold democratic values, ensuring that individuals can safely express their opinions in democratic societies.

View Frances Hui’s testimony to the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR).