After the turmoil against the amendments in 2019, a large number of civil society organizations, professional groups, and trade unions announced their dissolution one after another.
Recently, the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), which has been established for 54 years, has also been in crisis of disbandment - in addition to "arguing over the air" with government officials or dignitaries from time to time, it was also requested by the Trade Union Registration Bureau earlier to be involved in a dispute with "Employees". Last Monday (April 25), Ta Kung Pao criticized it as a "political organization controlled by foreign political forces", pointing out that the only way out is to dissolve the association on its own.
In fact, the Hong Kong Journalists Association discussed the agenda as early as "whether the articles of association need to be revised to align with the future direction" at the online special member meeting held on April 23. Chairman Chen Langsheng revealed after the meeting that someone mentioned "dissolution" during the meeting, but Whether it will take such a form in the future has not yet been determined.
The incident once again provokes thought, what kind of civil society and trade union organizations do Hong Kong need?
Following the announcement of the dissolution of the Hong Kong Education Professionals Association (Teachers Association) and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (Trade Union), the Journalists Association, which has been repeatedly attacked by the establishment, may be facing a crisis of dissolution.
(file picture)
Following the announcement of the dissolution of the Hong Kong Education Professionals Association (Teachers Association) and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (Trade Union), the Journalists Association, which has been repeatedly attacked by the establishment, may be facing a crisis of dissolution.
In the middle of last month (April 23), the HKJA held a special general meeting by video to discuss prospects such as "whether it is necessary to revise the articles of association to align with the future direction", including the threshold for dissolution.
Subsequently, Ta Kung Pao published an article under the title "Dissolving by itself is the only way out", criticizing the Association of Journalists as a "political organization controlled by foreign political forces", stating that the Association of Journalists "doesn't dissolve on its own, there is only one way out."
In fact, since this year alone, the HKJA has been in constant trouble. For example, as early as January, it was asked by the Trade Union Registration Bureau to provide information on its activities that were suspected of being inconsistent with the Trade Union Ordinance or the Constitution, and claimed that if it violated the regulations If the situation is serious, the Registration Bureau does not rule out canceling the trade union registration.
At that time, the Secretary for Security, Deng Bingqiang, publicly exchanged fire with the chairman of the Journalists Association, Chen Longsheng. campus”, “cooperating” student journalists to join the association, failing to uphold the professionalism of journalism.
It is still too early to say whether the association will be dissolved.
However, the incident is generally considered to be related to the fact that after the turmoil against the amendment bill, the SAR government has strengthened its supervision of social organizations, resulting in the shrinking of political space, and many professional organizations and trade unions have no choice but to announce their dissolution, including those active in various demonstrations in recent years, Emerging trade union organizations at the parade: New Civil Servants Union, Xinglin Awakening, Hong Kong Early Childhood Educators Union, etc.
According to statistics from the Labour Department, in 2021 alone, 63 employee unions will be delisted from the register, of which 23 will dissolve on their own, an increase of more than 31 times compared with only 2 applications in 2020.
It is undeniable that under the political pressure, some trade unions or civil society organizations have indeed been "unsupported";
The problem is that these professional groups and trade unions should not have much to do with politics. Instead, they strive for benefits and resolve disputes based on the promotion of professional recognition in the industry and the rights and interests of employees in the industry. However, from the news in recent years, there are many organizations. All tend to participate in or initiate political actions in the name of "professional organizations" or "trade unions", as if to become "political organizations", and the authorities respond with political means.
During the anti-amendment period, a large number of online media and citizen journalists emerged, some of whom failed to uphold the professional principles of being objective, neutral, faithful to the facts, and impartiality.
(File photo/Photo by Liang Pengwei)
In all fairness, trade unions and professional bodies play a certain role in protecting the rights and interests of employees and enhancing the professional development of the industry. They can also handle member complaints and labor disputes in a more organized and systematic manner.
For example, the Education Association, which has been in existence for nearly 50 years, has been following up on teachers' rights and interests for many years, handling more than 3,000 member inquiries and complaints every year. Its dissolution will undoubtedly be a huge blow to the Education Bureau, the teaching profession, and its nearly 95,000 teacher members. big loss.
However, when some organizations "politicize" the road more and more, or even forget their responsibilities as professional organizations or trade unions, it will inevitably lead to political attacks from other camps.
Since its establishment in 1968, the Hong Kong Journalists Association has always aimed to improve the freedom of the press, paying attention to the working conditions of Hong Kong journalists and solving the obstacles encountered in news reporting, that is, the core of the industry's "professional" and "rights".
However, in recent years, the Journalists Association seems to focus more on political issues, and is sometimes questioned as "selective voice". For example, during the anti-amendment period, a large number of online media and citizen journalists emerged, and some people did not uphold objective neutrality and loyalty to facts. , Participate in on-site reporting with impartial professional principles, and even stand between demonstrators and the police in the name of "surveillance", but the Journalists Association has not checked the "journalism profession" - is this beneficial to defending press freedom and maintaining The public's right to know?
Still, is this enough reason for the authorities to frighten or even ban them?
After this incident, the whole of Hong Kong should think twice.