🔸 International Solidarity🔸Engagement🔸Research
Message from our Executive Director : We Have No Reason to Stop
As the new year approaches, I wish, on behalf of Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor, to extend my best wishes for good health and continued progress to all.
The past year has brought both sorrow and hope. We are especially heartened by the release of Carol Ng, former chairperson of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, who has now been reunited with her family. We thank all friends and comrades whose solidarity and advocacy made a difference. Your continued support remains a vital source of strength.
At a recent event, I was asked what compels me to continue, despite being forced into exile and having a bounty placed on my head. My answer was simple: many face far greater hardship and have still not given up. In comparison, I have no reason to stop.
We must not forget the many Hong Kong labour activists and political prisoners who remain in detention. Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung have been deprived of their freedom for over 1,500 days, yet they continue to stand firm and refuse to submit to injustice.
Over the past year, workers from Coca-Cola factories to university campuses and food delivery platforms have taken collective action to fight for their dignity, even in the face of severe repression. Many others, including trade unionists, social workers, journalists, and filmmakers, continue to speak out and persevere within an increasingly constrained space.
For those of us living overseas, who still retain the freedom to speak and to act, there is all the more reason to persist. Though separated by distance, our shared values and convictions continue to bind us together.
What does not defeat us makes us strong!
Christopher Mung
Executive Director,
Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor
OUR WORK IN 2025
International Solidarity
- Release of Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung
Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung, former chairperson and vice-chairperson of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, are charged with “inciting subversion of state power”. Their trial, originally scheduled for May, has been repeatedly delayed and is now set for 22 January next year. Both have been held in pre-trial detention for over 1,500 days.
Ahead of the trial, we coordinated with UK trade unions, civil society groups, overseas activists, and Members of Parliament to organise marches and rallies. Trade unions from Spain, France, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines responded to our call and supported the solidarity actions. We will continue to monitor the case and speak out to ensure they are not left to face it alone.
- Amendments to the Trade Union Ordinance
In June, the HKSAR Government passed amendments to the Trade Union Ordinance, further restricting the right to form and join trade unions under the pretext of national security. The amendments impose lifetime bans on individuals who have allegedly violated the National Security Law from participating in unions, require government approval for foreign funding, and prohibit unions from affiliating with overseas organisations.
We strongly condemn the amendments, which weaponise national security to suppress labour organising. We have raised their implications with United Nations human rights bodies and will continue to monitor their implementation and advocate for affected trade unions..
- Connecting with Exiled Trade Unionists
Independent trade unions in authoritarian countries often face severe repression. This year, we strengthened ties with exiled trade unionists from Belarus, Myanmar, Vietnam, and beyond, forming an international alliance for exchange and cooperation.
We hosted our first online international seminar to share experiences and strategies from exiled labour movements, and participated in the Global Labour Institute’s learning camp in France, connecting with unionists from over 35 countries.
Connecting the Diaspora
Opposition to the Proposed China “Mega Embassy”
The Chinese government has proposed the construction of its largest overseas “mega embassy” at the former Royal Mint site in London, raising serious concerns about transnational surveillance and the repression of dissidents. In February, we joined Hong Kong diaspora organisations and UK civil society groups in organising a rally opposing the project. We continued to participate in subsequent protests in solidarity with Hongkongers in the UK.
We also worked with Tibetan, Uyghur, and Taiwanese groups in the UK to organise joint demonstrations, strengthening cross-community solidarity and drawing attention to human rights abuses by the Chinese authorities.
Commemoration of June 4
As public remembrance of June 4 has been effectively banned in Hong Kong, we joined Hongkongers and exiled Chinese dissidents across the world in holding commemorations on the day. Candlelight vigils took place in at least ten UK cities, as well as in Taiwan, the United States, Canada, and Australia, ensuring that the memory of 4 June continues to be preserved.
BNO 5+1 Settlement Policy
The UK Government’s recent consultation on tightening settlement requirements has significant implications for Hongkongers in the UK, particularly young asylum seekers. We conveyed these concerns to Members of Parliament through events organised by Hong Kong Watch and the Hong Kong Democracy Council.
We also worked with Hong Kong diaspora groups to launch the “Defend Hongkongers’ Right to Settlement” initiative, supporting community organisations in lobbying their local MPs. We will continue to monitor developments and advocate for fair treatment of asylum applicants and settlement arrangements for Hongkongers.
Promoting Labour Rights Among Hongkongers in the UK
We partnered with local Hongkongers’ organisations to host labour rights seminars across multiple cities, ran information booths at community markets, and held an online employment law forum to address workplace questions.
Research and Analysis
Over the past year, we conducted research on key labour issues in Hong Kong and published several reports. The State of Hong Kong’s Labour in 2024 examines workforce contraction driven by emigration and population ageing, and finds that government policies on imported talent and migrant labour have failed to address skills loss. Our Review of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme highlights regulatory gaps and its negative impact on job security, while Five Years of the National Security Law analyses how amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance have further constrained independent unions.
We also published over 260 Chinese and English articles on labour issues. As space for independent media in Hong Kong continues to shrink, we have sustained reporting and monitoring to keep local and overseas audiences informed. Through our YouTube channel, media interviews and public commentary, we continue to provide analysis and speak out for workers’ rights at a time when unions and civil society face increasing restrictions.
We were glad to have your support and advice throughout 2025 Your support drives us to go further. Please help us by circulating this email among your contacts to inform more people about the recent developments in #HKLabourRights. Don’t forget to follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and Bluesky for more updates.
This has been a wrap-up of our work in 2025, and we will see you in our January 2026 newsletter!
In solidarity,
Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor