Government moves to tighten Trade Union Regulations amid national security concerns

Amending the Trade Unions Ordinance will help plug national security loopholes and prevent the resurgence of chaos, according to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han on Monday.

The government proposed an amendment to the Ordinance that would empower the Registry of Trade Unions to refuse registration or mergers based on national security concerns. 

It will also stipulate that individuals convicted of national security offenses cannot serve as union officials or initiate new registration applications. Also, trade unions must obtain approval to accept foreign funding. The bill plans to be submitted to the Legislative Council in April this year.

Speaking at a meeting of the Legco’s panel on manpower on Monday, Sun said that the amendment is intended to ensure the government can more effectively fulfill its responsibilities under the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. 

He added that the government had previously received thousands of union applications in a few months, indicating potential exploitation of registration loopholes for unrelated activities. 

Sun reiterated that freedom of association is not absolute and can be restricted.

Kingsley Wong Kwok, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, raised concerns about whether unions’ future normal communication with overseas entities would be affected. 

“Sometimes it may not be clear whether these labor groups are affiliated with political organizations,” Wong said.

Sun clarified that attending international conferences does not imply connections with foreign organizations and asserted that the amendment would not impact international communication, as existing regulations already govern foreign funding for unions.

Lawmaker Lai Tung-kwok said that safeguarding national security is a top priority. 

He supported the authorities’ decision to amend the ordinance, saying the necessity of plugging the loopholes in current trade union regulations.

(Cheng Wong)