One more trade union was deregistered, even as Hong Kong officials worked hard to whitewash its human rights record before the UN committee. This was the second trade union to get its registration revoked since the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists. Over 100 trade unions have been deregistered since the implementation of the National Security Law.
Hong Kong White Collar (Administration and Clerical) Connect Union (HKWCCU) was established in November 2019 and reached a peak membership of 2,000. Its trade union registration was revoked by the Registry of Trade Unions of the HKSAR government on 17 February 2023. The authorities said HKWCCU had breached the Trade Union’s Ordinance.
The de-registration came one day after Assistant Commissioner of the Hong Kong Labour Department Cheung Hoi-Shan claimed that “Trade union rights in Hong Kong are strong and intact as ever” before the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
HKWCCU said in their final Facebook post that they felt calm about the disbandment and lamented the unpredictable “red line” in the Hong Kong National Security Law has already become “a red tide”, and “the shallow traces of the HKWCCU in the past three years have been washed away into the sea without pain”.
According to figures from the Hong Kong Labour Departments, 176 trade unions have been disbanded from 2020 to 2022, including the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists (de-registered on 22 October 2022). The HKWCCU is the second trade union deregistered by Hong Kong authorities.
The HKWCCU members consisted of non-governmental organisation administrative and clerical staff from various walks of life. In August 2022, the Registry of Trade Unions of the HKSAR government accused HKWCCU of violating the Trade Unions Ordinance by activities such as asking members to volunteer for and support the democrats’ primary election, standing in solidarity with the then HA Employees Alliance’s strikes, and supporting roadshows against the Hong Kong National Security Law legislation.
Timeline for deregistration of HKWCCU
- November 2019: The HKWCCU was founded, with a peak membership of 2,000.
- December 2021: The Registry of Trade Union, for the first time, accused HKWCCU the suspected breach of the Trade Union Ordinance.
- January 2022: The HKWCCU responded in writing to the Registry. Their written reply stated that according to the International Labour Organization Convention and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, trade union activity is not confined to employment relationships, but also includes the promotion and protection of economic and social rights, occupational safety, and so on. Under Hong Kong Basic Law Article 39, both covenants remain in force in Hong Kong.
- August 2022: The Registry accused HKWCCU of asking members to volunteer for and support the democrats’ primary election, standing in solidarity with the then HA Employees Alliance’s strikes, and supporting roadshows against the Hong Kong National Security Law legislation. The Registry accused the HKWCCU of asking members to volunteer for and support the democrats’ primary election, standing in solidarity with the then HA Employees Alliance’s strikes, and supporting roadshows against the Hong Kong National Security Law legislation. In its response to the Registry, HKWCCU reiterated that the trade union’s objective purpose is founded on the Hong Kong Basic Law and relevant international laws.
- December 2022: The Registry notified HKWCCU that the registration would be cancelled, in effect on 17 February, 2023.
- February 16, 2023: “Trade union rights in Hong Kong are strong and intact as ever.” Assistant Commissioner of the Hong Kong Labour Department Cheung Hoi Shan spoke before the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
- February 17 2023: HKSAR government gazetted to revoke HKWCCU registration.
(Sources: Mingpao, inmediahk net, Hong Kong Free Press)