On 9 October (Wednesday), the International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific (ITUC-Asia Pacific) passed a resolution condemning the Hong Kong government for weaponising the National Security Legislation (NSL) and the Article 23 Law to arrest and detain trade unionists and human rights activists, clamp down on civil liberties, spread fear, and silence dissidents both within Hong Kong and internationally. The resolution condemns the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities’ cross-border surveillance, censorship, asset freezes, travel restrictions and harassment of diaspora trade unionists and human rights defenders.
ITUC-Asia Pacific, which represents over 60 million trade union members in 34 Asian and Pacific nations and territories, conducted its’ 26th ITUC-Asia Pacific Regional General Council Meeting this month in Kathmandu, Nepal. The resolution, which called for solidarity with the independent trade union movement and imprisoned trade unionists in Hong Kong, expressed deep concerns about the prolonged imprisonment of three Hong Kong independent trade unionists, former Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) General Secretary Lee Cheuk Yan, former HKCTU Chair Carol Ng, and former Chair of the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance (HAEA) Winnie Yu.
Christoper Mung, Hong Kong Labour Rights Monito (HKLRM) Executive Director, gave a video speech at the meeting. He extended his gratitude to ITUC and ITUC-AP for their continuous support. HKLRM will continue speaking for the Hong Kong labour movement in different countries and attending the UN and ILO meetings to review the international convention.
In his speech, Christoper stated that Carol Ng, Lee Cheuk Yan and Winnie Yu have been imprisoned for three and a half years for their fight for democracy. Yet, it remains unknown how long they will be detained. Ng, Yu, and other pro-democracy figures await court sentencing, while Lee Cheuk Yan and two other former Hong Kong Alliance members face trial next May. At this critical moment, he hopes the international labour movement advocates for Hong Kong trade unionists and political prisoners in jail.
The resolution further denounced the deteriorating situation of trade unionists in Hong Kong, the personal safety of the diaspora trade unionists, human rights activists, and protesters, along with the civil society organisations created outside Hong Kong. It pointed out that the diaspora trade unionists and human rights defenders face the ‘long arm’ control of the NSL and Article 23 Law, which includes cross-border monitoring, censorship, asset freezes, travel restrictions, and harassment by the government agencies worldwide. It used the case of the HKSAR Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, which surveilled Christopher Mung and two other diaspora campaigners, blatantly breaking UK domestic laws.
He said: “Despite facing various forms of transnational suppression from the Hong Kong authorities, my colleagues and I will not give up; we will continue this struggle.” He urged labour unions around the world to unite in their fight against cross-border repression, which weakens worker solidarity.
The resolution expressed severe concerns about the new offences under Article 23, namely treason, sedition, insurrection, and external interferences endangering national security. These offences violate international human rights laws and further restrict and penalise the legitimate exercise of civil liberties and international trade union solidarity.
The resolution vowed to monitor Hong Kong’s developments, use the reporting mechanisms of the International Labour Organisation(ILO) and United Nations(UN) treaty bodies, and mobilise campaigns calling for Lee Cheuk Yan’s release.