Newsletter September 2022

1 min read

In this newsletter:

  • HK Speech therapists’ court petition letters
  • Irish Congress Trade Union’s Global Solidarity Summer School

Five speech therapists, Man-Ling Lai, Melody Yeung, Sidney Ng, Samuel Chan, and Tsz-ho Fong, from the now disbanded General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists (GUHKST), were found guilty of “conspiracy to print, publish, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications” and sentenced to 19 months in prison over three children’s books deemed to be criticising the government. The five were also the union organisers of GUHKST. 

Therapists’ petitions in the court 

The five speech therapists pleaded not guilty and planned to read out their petitions in front of the court. However, the judge interrupted their speeches, saying they were making a political manifesto. Read their petitions below. 

A reflection on the eve of sentencing – Man-Ling Lai’s court petition letter

“Today is 7 September. Three more days until the sentencing. I would like to share my reflections on the case. The five-day trial and the 13 long months of remand have been inspiring. The whole trial can be concluded with one question: ‘How free is freedom of speech?'”

Melody Yeung’s court petition letter

“As a defendant who chose not to plead guilty, I decided to dismiss my lawyer and make my own case after five days of trial. I am puzzled by the fact that my defence could only be done under this established legal framework…”

Sidney Ng’s court petition letter

“The union (GUHKST) was established with the mission of “walking with the voiceless”. It is surprising that the Hong Kong Trade Union Registry deregistered such a small, unremarkable union on the grounds of ‘suspected of endangering national security'”.

Global Solidarity

Irish Congress Trade Union’s Global Solidarity Summer School

Hong Kong Labour Right’s Monitor Executive Director Siu-tat Mung was invited to join the Global Solidarity Summer School organised by the Irish Congress Trade Union (ICTU) on 8 September 2022. Mung hosted an online workshop about the Hong Kong labour rights movement.  

In the workshop, Mung explained the crackdown on union leaders and organisations since the implementation of the National Security Law; a large number of trade unions were thus forced to disband. He also shared his take on how the Hong Kong protest movement can learn from Eastern Europe’s democratisation. Read more about the summer school.

This has been the wrap-up of our work for the past month. Tell us what you think about it. All comments and suggestions are welcome! Remember to follow us on TwitterInstagram and Facebook

In solidarity, 

HK Labour Rights Monitor

2022年9月電子通訊

3 mins read
  • 香港言語治療師總工會理事陳情信
  • 打撃假自僱和保障自僱者的外國經驗
  • 愛爾蘭總工會全球團結夏日學園

香港言語治療師總工會五名理事因發布兒童繪本,被裁定串謀發布煽動刊物罪成,各被判囚19個月。法官在判詞中強調為保障國家安全,以《煽動罪》限制言論及出版自由實屬必要。控方雖然並沒有以《國安法》起訴五人,但當局明顯藉國家安全為借口,全面限制人民表達自由的權利。

羊村繪本案各人陳情書 

前香港言語治療師總工會正副主席黎雯齡及楊逸意當日在庭上親身陳辭,但黎在發言時被法官指她發表政治宣言而打斷,工會前秘書伍巧怡則親自撰寫陳情信由代表律師於庭上讀出。以下是黎雯齡、楊逸意及伍巧怡的陳情信。 

《判刑前的一段感言》黎雯齡陳情信全文

“今日係9月7日,仲有3日就判啦。我想講下自己對此案嘅反思同感悟,喺5日嘅審訊入面,以及13個月以來還押嘅漫長等待,令我獲益良多,有好多體會。 總結成個審訊,係一個問題: ‘How Free is Freedom of Speech?'”

楊逸意陳情信全文

“經歷五天的審訊,作為一名選擇不認罪的被告,我選擇解聘律師、自行陳情,是因為對於只能在既定的法律框架下進行辯護感到不解。”

伍巧怡陳情信全文

這個工會本著「與無聲者同行」的初衷成立,沒有想過即使規模細小又不起眼,最終亦會被職工會登記局以「涉嫌危害國家安全」為由取消資格…

關注香港勞權打撃假自僱和保障自僱者的外國經驗

Mirror演唱會意外發生至今逾一個月,對於舞蹈員是自僱還是受僱,勞工處表示還在研究,懸而未決。無獨有偶,早前發生的Foodpanda車手奪命意外事故,資方同是不承認司機是公司僱員,令肇事車手不受工傷條例保障。這兩宗意外均反映香港現行勞工法例落後,未能有效打撃假自僱及保障自僱者權益,他山之石,外國政府有何應對就業模式轉變的新措施及法例,值得香港借鏡呢? 

連結國際工會 |愛爾蘭總工會全球團結夏日學園 

香港勞權監察總幹事蒙兆達在9月8日獲邀出席愛爾蘭總工會(Irish Congress Trade Unions)全球團結夏日學園(Global Solidarity Summer School)活動,負責主講以香港工運為主題的工作坊,講解了香港在引入國安法後,工會領袖和工運團體遭受打壓、大量工會被迫解散的狀況,同時亦分享東歐民主化經驗對香港抗爭運動的啟示。

以上是我們過去一個月的匯報,我們更想知道你的看法及意見,無任歡迎。另外記得追蹤我們的Twitter, instagramfacebook,緊貼我們的最新動態。謝謝!  

香港勞權監察