Liberal Candidate Apologizes for Controversial Remark about Turning Over Conservative Rival to China for Bounty

March 28, 2025 TruthUSA

Paul Chiang, a Liberal candidate running for re-election in the greater Toronto area, is apologizing for comments made to a media outlet suggesting that his Conservative rival, a Hong Kong democracy activist whom Chinese authorities have placed a bounty on, be turned over to China.

“The comments I made were deplorable and a complete lapse of judgement on the seriousness of the matter. As a former Police Officer, I should have known better. I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments,” Chiang, the MP representing Markham-Unionville since 2021, said in a March 28 statement.

“I will always continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Hong Kong in their fight to safeguard their human rights and freedoms.”

Chiang made the comments about Conservative candidate and Hong Kong democracy activist Joe Tay to the Chinese-language publication Ming Pao during an ethnic media conference in January, as reported by the Toronto Association for Democracy in China. At the time, Tay was running in the same riding as Chiang, Markham-Unionville, but is now running in the Don Valley North riding.

“To everyone here, you can claim the one-million-dollar bounty if you bring him to Toronto’s Chinese Consulate,” Chiang reportedly said.

Hong Kong authorities announced a $1 million bounty for information to help in the capture of Tay and five other democracy activists in December 2024.