Canada fast-tracks Chinese asylum-seekers - report .  VANCOUVER , British Columbia 1996-08-28  Canada is fast-tracking immigration applications from Chinese dissidents in Hong Kong before the British colony reverts to China 's control next year , the Vancouver Sun reported on Wednesday .  The applications are being " fast-tracked in the sense that we are processing them and the ones who have been referred to us have been interviewed , " the newspaper quoted Garrett Lambert , Canada 's high commissioner in Hong Kong , as saying .  " A small number already have preliminary indications as to what the disposition of their cases are and so I suppose in that sense , I guess we have given them some preferential treatment , " Lambert said .  He declined to say how many people were being considered for asylum .  Canada 's ministry of foreign affairs in Ottawa had no immediate comment on the report .  About 80 Chinese dissidents are believed to be living in exile in Hong Kong .  Their fate after the territory reverts to Chinese rule is unclear .  Britain hands Hong Kong back to China at midnight on June 30 , 1997 , after 150 years of colonial rule .  Canada 's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy said after meeting Hong Kong Gov .  Chris Patten last month that Canada may grant asylum to dissidents who have fled to Hong Kong from China .  Chinese officials have said such dissidents may not become [START_ENT] Hong Kong [END_ENT] permanent residents since they entered the territory illegally but have also said their status would be decided by the post-1997 local Hong Kong administration .
Hong Kong