Vote dissolves trade union

The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions has become the latest group to disband after a vote by its members.

Of the 67 votes from 48 affiliates that joined the voting at a special general meeting yesterday, 57 voted to dissolve the union, eight voted against it and two abstained.

It narrowly fulfilled the requirement for disbandment that at least 80 percent of those present - meaning 54 votes - support it.

Employees of the union and training centers will be laid off in two months.

The union will pay staff with its HK$20 million worth of assets after which the remaining amount could be evenly split among affiliates.

Founded in 1990, the union had 75 affiliates and more than 100,000 members.

Vice chairman Leo Tang Kin-wah said it was a "heartbreaking decision," but added all affiliates understood the situation.

He said the union - amid reports it is the targeted of national security investigations - felt it was politically uncertain to continue.

Tang added: "If we continue, can we stand the pressure in the current environment?

"Even though the confederation has decided to disband, the spirit and the history of the independent labor movement in Hong Kong for 31 years cannot be destroyed and our affiliates and our organizers will carry on this spirit."

The union had affiliates across different sectors, including property management, cleaning, transportation, aviation, domestic and personal services, food and beverage, and construction.

Some affiliates will continue running on their own, the union noted.

Ahead of the announcement, affiliate Citybus Ltd Employees Union said it would continue operating, despite having a potentially heavier administrative burden without the CTU's assistance.

The Government Employees Solidarity Union also expressed concerns it would be harder to fight for workers' rights without the union.

But Bill Tang Ka-piu of the pro-establishment Federation of Trade Unions dismissed the worries, saying CTU's disbandment would only benefit workers, whose rights were previously being used by the opposition camp for political purposes.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said the union only "has itself to blame" for the disbandment.

The pro-Beijing party said CTU has been organizing anti-China acts and stirring up troubles in Hong Kong under the disguise of being a labor coalition. It also called on police to continue its investigation into the union.

The Security Bureau said an organization and its members remain criminally liable for offenses they committed even after disbandment.

carine.chow@singtaonewscorp.com