The Globe and Mail Bookmark Please log in to listen to this story. Also available in French and Mandarin. Log In Create Free Account Getting audio file ... This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy. Full Disclaimer LAM YIK/Reuters A new program to help Hong Kongers study and work in Canada has attracted more than 500 applications in the first three weeks after it opened but one lawyer familiar with immigration levels from Asia says that’s not a remarkable number. In November, the Canadian government, facing pressure to help Hong Kongers as China clamped down on civil rights, announced a new immigration arrangement aimed at attracting migrants from the former British territory. It included a three-year open work permit for recent Hong Kong graduates or those with a history of work experience in areas Canada might value, as well as a new pathway to permanent-resident status for those who end up coming here.