TUC writes to Hong Kong Economic & Trade office in London about public protests in Hong Kong
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Ms Kit Lai To Director-General Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office 18 Bedford Square London WC1B 3JA |
In solidarity with our colleagues in the Hong Kong trade union movement striking on 2-3 September, and on behalf of the Trades Union Congress, the British trade union national centre, representing 5.5 million working people, I urge the administration of Hong Kong to allow the public to protest without facing harassment and violence from the police and others.
Hong Kong is a signatory party to the ICCPR and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials both of which are being infringed by the police.
Our sisters and brothers in the Hong Kong trade union movement have, in common with other protesters, made five demands: permanent withdrawal of the extradition law; release of the arrested protesters without charge; withdrawal by the authorities of their characterisation of the 12 June protests as “riots”; an independent investigation into police violence and abuse of power; and implementation of universal suffrage.
We support those demands and believe that the Hong Kong administration should initiate a dialogue with the people by accepting them.
If the administration does not allow the people of Hong Kong to exercise their fundamental and inalienable human rights to freedom of association, assembly, speech and the right to strike, the potential economic and financial impact on Hong Kong and on China generally could be severe and long-lasting.
Please convey our views to your administration and inform us of its response.
Yours sincerely
Frances O'Grady
General Secretary