In this issue: Stop China’s Mega Embassy | The Lives Behind China’s Deliveries | Event | HK Labour Rights Newsflash
Over 1,000 Hongkongers Rally in London Against China’s “Mega Embassy”
This month, 1,500 Hongkongers marched through central London for the fifth time this year to resist Beijing’s plan for a so-called “mega embassy.” Families came with children, elders arrived in wheelchairs, and many held handmade banners — from signs calling it a “spy base” to a Lennon Wall-inspired message from a young girl. Leaflets were also shared with British Museum visitors, exposing the CCP’s authoritarian reach.
China’s proposed ‘mega embassy’ poses a direct threat to the safety of the Hong Kongers’ community in the UK. If approved, it would intensify transnational repression and further deter people from speaking out against the regime. We urge Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to defend national security and the values of freedom and to stand firm against Beijing.
While the government has postponed its decision for now, we will remain vigilant and continue to take to the streets to ensure the world hears our voice. See you on the streets again this September!
Event
HRMI Webinar – Uncovering New Modes of Suppression under the NSL
At a Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) forum, our Executive Director, Christopher Mung, warned that the National Security Law (NSL) goes far beyond punishing the 2019 protests. Its real aim is to eliminate opposition, impose authoritarian order, and silence democratic aspirations. He highlighted how recent amendments to the Trade Union Ordinance place unions under constant surveillance, eroding autonomy, while authorities combine legal and administrative harassment to foster “pervasive national security.” This climate has already forced groups such as China Labour Bulletin and the Riders’ Rights Concern Group to dissolve, mirroring mainland China’s approach to suppressing collective rights defence action.
Speakers noted political interference spreading to education, the arts, and abroad. Curator Clara Cheung recounted Thai organisers, pressured by Beijing, censoring Hong Kong, Uyghur, and Tibetan artists and removing Tibetan works.
China’s Gig Riders: The Hidden Cost of Convenience
China’s food delivery industry relies on over 10 million riders, yet most face shrinking pay and little protection. To meet punishing delivery targets, workers often speed or ride against traffic — contributing to more than 12,000 accidents in 2023.
Platforms like Meituan and Ele.me announced social insurance schemes ahead of this year’s “Two Sessions,” but most riders remain excluded. Classified as self-employed, they are denied basic labour rights and must cover unaffordable premiums themselves. A 2022 survey found 80% lacked pension coverage and 79% had no medical insurance. In one tragic case, a courier died from sudden cardiac arrest mid-delivery. His family received just 40,000 RMB (around £4,000) in compensation, triggering national outrage.
From Beijing to Hong Kong, the model shifts responsibility from corporations onto workers. True sustainability demands that rider protections are treated as essential, not optional.