From the early summer to the bitter winter of 2019, Hongkongers fought an unprecedented battle, reigniting the struggle against tyranny, which we called ‘the revolution of our times’.
After the Umbrella Movement, Hongkongers witnessed a low in the democratic movement, the vicious onslaught on Hong Kong’s democracy and rule of law by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the disqualification of democratically elected legislators, the political-economic regime continues to suppress Hongkongers.
In the year of 2019, Hongkongers learned to unite peaceful and militant protesters, learned to respect various strategies, and constantly raising the bar for social movement progressiveness.
However, this is not indiscriminate compliance as we realized that unity is the only way to confront the CPC. We are united to defend the dignity and freedom of Hong Kong people, reclaiming the rights of the people from the regime and its beneficiaries.
The CPC under Xi Jinping has responded ruthlessly to the people of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong communist regime suppressed defiant Hongkongers with a heavily armed police force.
Since June 2019, police violence and abuses of power are rampant in Hong Kong, revealing the repressive nature of CPC’s rule over Hongkongers.
Up to the present, countless youth sacrificed their lives for the movement, also there are many unnamed martyrs. A lot of brave activists were forced into exile.
All of which are the evil consequences of CPC’s rule.
Not only have Hongkongers’ means of struggling evolved, but our minds have also been armed. In the revolution of our times, the nature of all social movements has changed.
Hongkongers should never endure police violence, and must not allow the ’dirty-cops’ to become a privileged class, being exempt from legal sanction throughout their lifetimes.
The spirit of ‘the revolution of our times’ has embedded in the daily lives of Hongkongers. Multiple battlefronts have been developed, the prototype of a universal resistance has been formed:
– in the economic front, the resistance relies upon the ‘yellow economic circle’;
– in the community front, there are communal politics;
– in the international front, there are overseas lobbying and monitoring;
– on the streets, there are resistances as well as Lennon walls.
Naturally, the battlefront at workplaces counts on resistance from trade unions.
To fight against totalitarianism, the people of Hong Kong have re-examined society relations with an aim to liberate every battlefront and generate strengths for future struggles.
In the revolution of our times, Hongkongers had experienced many ‘Three strikes’ and failed to achieve total success at last.
After the siege of the Legislative Council in June, a massive strike of 350,000 people in August 5 and the subsequent strike rallies, Hongkongers eventually realized that the establishment of trade unions for long-term struggles is necessary.
The new waves of trade unions organizing have changed the ecosystem of the Hong Kong trade union movement. It is a ‘labour subject’ derived from the ‘political subject’ in the movement.
The battlefront against totalitarian violence has given birth to the labour subject which has become a new force in the democratic movement.
It not only actively intervenes in the current political struggle but also combines various demands of the workers and responds to tyranny with industrial actions.
At the same time, the existing trade union movement also converges with the emerging forces, ‘liberating’ the workplaces of various industries and fighting against the vested interests in all sectors.
The health care workers’ strike is the best example, showing that trade unions are taking up the baton of social struggles.
In the face of the pandemic, grassroots in Hong Kong are facing unprecedented challenges. Despite all sectors from Hong Kong fight in solidarity against the pandemic, an unjust regime is dragging Hongkongers ever closer to a financial slush.
With all industries in depression and workers unemployed, the ‘Anti-epidemic Fund’ proposed by the government, not only ignores the needs of unemployed workers, but also stubbornly ignores the existence of freelance and irregular workers.
All walks of life have been caught in an ice age that is resulted from a man-made disaster.
Hong Kong workers are deprived of the right to collective bargaining and protection in the right to strike is also inadequate. Under the current economic adversities, workers are vulnerable to exploitation by consortiums and the regime.
While the government issued an unprecedented ‘review-free’ subsidy to consortiums, the unemployed wage-earners can only receive CSSA under strict scrutiny.
A social movement and the subsequent pandemic have fully demonstrated that this is not a government of the Hong Kong people.
Now, the CPC cannot even wait until the end of the pandemic to settle scores with Hongkongers. From front-line comrades to peaceful protestors, the CPC ensures that no one is missed out in this new wave of political persecution.
The Liaison Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office intervened into the operation of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, misappropriating the law for their own ends and cooking up criminal charges against the pro-democrat legislators.
Furthermore, they suddenly announced that the two Offices were not regulated by Article 22 of the Basic Law, single-handedly tearing down the false facade of ‘one country, two systems’.
The Hong Kong government has been fighting against the pandemic half-heartedly.
In full collaboration with Beijing, the Hong Kong government does not even bother with the window-dressing work of ‘one country, two systems’.
Hong Kong people who have gone through the anti-tyranny movement in 2019 would never accept the CPC’s brutality.
This year, in the Labour Day action, we reiterate the importance of the trade union front. This is one of the paths that must be taken.
Facing the CPC’s belligerence, we must be prepared to respond to tyranny with more progressive means. We call on Hong Kong people to join trade unions, establish trade unions, to prepare thoroughly for future battles.
Five Demands, not one less!
Fight for justice, struggle against pandemic and tyranny!
Trade unions front, the way to struggles!
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (29/4/2020)
Signers (union):
Personal and Community Service Workers General Union
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Employees General Union
Union of Hong Kong Dockers
The Confederation of Tertiary Institutes Staff Unions
Construction Site Workers General Union
Hospital Authority Workers General Union
Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union
Insurance & Finance Practitioners Solidarity Sector
Hong Kong School Non-Teaching Staff Union
Hong Kong Cabin Crew Federation
Hong Kong Dumper Truck Drivers Association
Concrete Industry Workers Union
Federation of Hong Kong Transport Worker Organizations
Catering and Hotels Industries Employees General Union
Bartenders & Mixologists Union of Hong Kong
Railway Power
Railway Power
Hong Kong Information Technology Workers’ Union Offical Channel
Hong Kong Information Technology Workers’ Union
Union of Hong Kong Occupational Therapists
Hong Kong Manufacturing Industry Society
Preparatory Committee of Property Management Union
Hong Kong Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industries Employees General Union
Government Non-Civil Service Staff General Union
Hong Kong White Collar (Administration and Clerical) Connect Union
Staff Association of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
The General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists
HK Trading, Merchandising and Purchasing
Hong Kong Early Childhood Educators’ Union
Hospital Authority Employees Alliance (HAEA)
Union of the Hong Kong Professional Optometrists
World First Bus Company Staff Union
Hong Kong Social Workers’ General Union
Staff Union of ELCHK – Social Service
Hong Kong Freelancer Union Preparatory Committee
Hong Kong Construction and Engineering Employees General Union
Hong Kong Sheng Kui Hui Welfare Council Workers Trade Union
Hong Kong Testing and Certification Union
Hong Kong Public Relations and Communications Professional Union
Hong Kong Tourism Industry Innovation General Union
Hong Kong Alliance of Accounting Professionals
Hong Kong Insurance Union
Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union
Retail Frontline Staff Union Preparatory Committee
Tung Wah Social Movement Concern Group
Hong Kong Real Estate Agents Rights and Benefits General Union
Hong Kong Event Professionals Union
Hong Kong Company Secretarial Professional Association Preparatory Committee
Hong Kong Marketing and Sales Professionals Union
Hong Long Christian Service Social Policy Staff Concern Group
Hong Kong Music Industry Union
Hong Kong Beauty and MakeUp Trade Union
Organizing Committee of Hong Kong Cultural Creativity And Craft Employees Union
Hong Kong Teaching and Research Support Staff Union Hong Kong Union of Designers
Hong Kong Educators Alliance
Citybus Limited Employees Union
Preparatory Committee of Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service Employees Association
Hong Kong Human Resources Employees Union
Cleaning Service Industry Workers Union
Hong Kong Buildings Management and Security Workers General Union
Coach Drivers Union
Hong Kong Baptist University Faculty and Staff Union
Union of Hong Kong Post Office Employees
Bar Bending Industry Workers Solidarity Union
Signers (District councilors):
Yau Hon Pong
Man Nim Chi
Valerie Wong Cheuk Nga
Wong Chun Yeung
Szeto Pok-Man
Janet Ng Yuet Lan
Chu Kong Wai, Derek
Ho Wai Lun
Stanley Ho Wai Hong
Lui Man Kwong
Gary Li Wing Choi
Li Chi Wang
Lee Kwok Kuen
Rayman Chow Wai Hung
Eddie Chow Kam Ho
Lam Siu Chung, Frankie
Ben Lam Siu Pan
Lam Ming Yat
Lam Ming Yan
Lam Kin Cheung
Lam Sek Tim
Hung Chun Hin Hilson
Wu Chi Kin
Suzanne Wu Sui Shan
Max Wu
Gary Fan Kwok Wai
Henry Chun
Ramon Yuen Hoi Man
Ray Au Chun Wah
Au Chun Ho
Thomas Hong
Cheung Wai Chiu
Clara Cheung
Leung Li
Zoe Leung
Leung Kam Wai
Mok Kin Shing
Hui Kei Cheung
Hui Kam Shing
Kwok Man Ho
Kwok Chi Chung
Kwok Sau Yin
Chan Wai Lit
Chan Wai K
Louis Ma
Mak Tak Ching
Sin Chung Kai
Wan Chi Chung
Ho Cheuk Hin Isaac
Fung Kwan On
Napo Wong Weng Chi
Wong Kai Ming, Bill
Clarisse Yeung
Yip Wing
Yip Kam Lung Sam
Liao Pak Hong Ricardo
Yan Pui Lam Lance
Pui Chi Lap James
Chiu Yan Loy
Lau Yung Wai Ken
Choy Chak Hung
Cheng Chung Man
Cheng Chi Kin
Lai Ming Chak, Jacky
Lo Chun Yu, Cary
Chung Kam Lun, Ben
Hon Chun Yin, Nicholas
Susi Law