🔸Advocacy🔸International Solidarity🔸Research🔸Engagement
Never Underestimate the Power of Every Action
I once spoke with a comrade who had endured imprisonment and was later forced into exile. He described the isolation and hardship of prison life as almost unbearable. Yet he found his greatest comfort in knowing that people on the outside continued to speak up for them and hadn’t given up. His remarks have stayed with me ever since, serving as a constant reminder. If we measure the value of an action solely by whether it achieves its immediate goals, we risk losing sight of its deeper significance.
In November, before the year ended, the court finally handed down sentences in the 47 Democrats trial, which lasted over 100 days. Carol Ng and Winnie Yu were sentenced to 4 years and 5 months in jail and 6 years and 9 months, respectively. More than 14 trade unions worldwide condemned the unjust and absurd sentence. We also organised a protest calling for the release of all political prisoners, hoping that our voices would reach across borders and remind our comrades behind bars that they are not alone.
Another case tied to the National Security Law involves three leaders of the defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movement of China, including Lee Cheuk Yan, former Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions. Their trial is set for May 2025. When the time comes, we will once again mobilise and gather international union support, and we hope everyone will join us in taking action.
Our 2024 annual report reflects on a year of international advocacy, solidarity efforts, research, and engagement with diaspora communities. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who supported us through our challenges this year. Having embraced new multimedia approaches, including webinars and online programs, to spark discussions on pressing issues, we aim to expand online content, fostering deeper connections for those abroad and those staying in Hong Kong.
As we all know, Hong Kong’s economy is declining, marked by frequent news of business closures and layoffs. Under an increasingly repressive government, monitoring deteriorates, and workers face unprecedented challenges. We are committed to standing with Hong Kong’s workers — monitoring, reporting, and taking action alongside them.
Christopher Mung
Executive Director,
Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor
OUR WORK IN 2024
International Advocacy
In January, the UN Human Rights Council conducted its first Universal Periodic Review of China’s human rights record since the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law. We submitted a civil society report and took part in consultations in Geneva, highlighting the law’s use to suppress trade unions and civil society. In response, four UN experts called for its repeal, emphasising the need to protect free speech and peaceful assembly. Nearly 20 countries voiced concern, with six specifically urging the repeal of the law and an end to the persecution of human rights advocates.
We also supported joint initiatives to review HKETO’s status, address transnational repression, and urge the UK Foreign Secretary to raise human rights issues at his first visit to China. Our Executive Director, Christopher Mung, participated in events organised by Hong Kong Watch, HK Friends of Labour, and IPAC, advocating for a human rights-prioritised approach to China policy in the UK government and Parliament.
Trade Union Solidarity
In the face of repression, we must stand together. We attended the activities organised by trade unionists from the UK, France, Sweden, Canada, and Italy, among others, who have been supporting our campaigns. We were also pleased to have UNISON co-host our first solidarity reception. The TUC and Labour Party representatives attending the reception pledged their unwavering support for Hong Kong’s independent trade union movement. We were heartened to see the international solidarity among trade unions that are campaigning for the immediate release of Hong Kong trade unionists incarcerated and an end to the persecution of other trade unionists, such as Elizabeth Tang, former General Secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation, former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, and Christopher Mung, the Director of HKLRM. At the resumption of the trial of the HK47 Democrats, trade unionists stood in solidarity and protested outside the Chinese embassy in London, which further encouraged us.
Monitor Hong Kong Labour Rights Issues
Report and analyse the labour rights situation in Hong Kong
Since the authorities introduced the NSL, over 175 trade unions have been decimated, and at least 12 trade unionists have been arrested or convicted. We must honour our freedom and speak up for Hong Kong’s workers in the face of repression. We published a report titled ‘The State of Labour in Hong Kong 2022,’ that demonstrates how the national security laws and regulations brought about in response to COVID have seriously undermined labour rights in Hong Kong.
We also used our publications, analyses, and media appearances to advocate for workers in Hong Kong. We published 84 blogs in Chinese or English and were interviewed by media outlets in Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, Italy, Canada, Sweden, and the USA.
Education
Carry on the spirit of the Hong Kong Labour Rights Movement
We held ten labour rights talks and the exhibition ‘Be Water-Persist’ in seven cities and towns around the UK. The talks and exhibitions brought together Hong Kongers in the UK, reminding them of the resilience and power of the trade union movement in Hong Kong. We encouraged these Hong Kongers to join trade unions in the UK and continue the spirit of independent trade unionism.
We also publicised articles to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Dockers’ strike, the 16th anniversary of the bar-bender strike and the interview series with Hong Kong Diaspora Trade Unionists.
We hope to see you at future talks, either in person or online, soon!
We were glad to have your support and advice all throughout 2023. 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 Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
This has been a wrap-up of our work in 2023, and we will see you in our January 2024 next newsletter!
In solidarity,
Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor