Hong Kong trade unions face more stringent scrutiny of their affiliations with external organisations under a proposal to expand the power of labour officials and align their operational requirements with national security laws.
The Labour Department said on Wednesday that its proposed amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance included regulating unions’ receipt and use of funds provided by an “external” force and their affiliation with organisations located in an “external” place.
Under the proposal, “external” refers to places outside Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau, in alignment with the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. But joining external political groups would not be allowed.
The existing law governs only the unions’ connections with groups in a “foreign country” with less scrutiny of various areas when compared with the proposed changes. Joining a foreign political group is also banned at present.
“We [seek to] amend the proposal to specifically strengthen national security without unnecessarily expanding the scope,” Raymond Ho Kam-biu, deputy commissioner for Labour (Labour Administration), said.
The amendment requires trade unions to seek approval from the Registrar of Trade Unions to receive funds from external forces by declaring the source and use of the money. If the funds are approved, they cannot be used in designated local elections.
