In this issue: London Rally Demands Free Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung | ITUC: Free Lee Cheuk Yan | US Flags HK Over Migrant Worker Abuse | HK Labour Rights Newsflash
London Rally Demands Release of Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung
Over 100 people rallied outside the Chinese consulate in London, demanding the immediate release of Hong Kong democracy activists Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung, imprisoned for over 1,500 days and facing charges of “inciting subversion”. Their trials have been repeatedly postponed, drawing criticism from UK politicians, trade unions, and international human rights groups.
Speakers, including Labour MP John McDonnell and reps from UNISON and PCS, condemned the delays as “inhumane” and a tactic to intimidate others from standing up for democratic and labour rights. McDonnell stressed, “Trade agreements should not override human rights commitments.”
Activists highlighted that the trials are part of a wider crackdown on memory and dissent, targeting anyone involved in June 4 commemorations. They called on the UK government and international community to act and support freedom of expression, association, and justice in Hong Kong.
International Solidarity
ITUC Launches Global Action to Free Lee Cheuk Yan
The ITUC and trade unions worldwide stand in solidarity with Lee Cheuk Yan and all those fight for democracy and the freedom of association in Hong Kong. They call on the Hong Kong government to:
- Drop all charges against Lee Cheuk-yan
- Release all imprisoned unionists and activists
- Repeal the NSL and NSO
- Respect international human rights — including freedom of association & expression
U.S. Warns: Hong Kong Failing to Protect Migrant Domestic Workers
The US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons report has placed Hong Kong on the Tier 2 Watch List for the second year, citing insufficient action against human trafficking. Despite screening over 11,000 people, authorities identified just eight victims, none among the city’s 400,000 migrant domestic workers. The report highlights systemic gaps, including abusive placement fees, passport confiscation, long working hours, poor living conditions, and sexual exploitation. Police rarely treat cases as trafficking. It criticises the “two-week rule” and mandatory live-in requirement, urging reforms to protect workers, limit hours, remove agency fees, and allow freedom of residence.
HK Labour Rights Newsflash
- Asia Acts on Workplace Bullying Hong Kong Stays Stagnant <Read more>
- HK Labour Candidates Talk Nationalism Not Workplace Safety, Wages or the Surge in Job Insecurity <Read more>
- Imported as Floor Manager, Made to Wash Dishes — Migrant Worker Reveals Exploitation in HK <Read more>
- Chow Hang-tung Questions: When Did Words Become a Crime? <Read more>