• "The Hong Kong police arrested at least 14 union leaders, lawmakers, activists, and a media tycoon today, Saturday, on charges of participating in illegal protests last year. Among those arrested were 81-year-old activist, former lawmaker, and prominent lawyer Martin Lee, as well as Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Au Nok-hin. Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Yeung Sum—a former legislator from the Democratic Party—were already charged in February for their participation in a mass demonstration against the government on August 31 of last year. Lee Cheuk-yan is the general secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU). Former legislator Leung Kwok-hung is a well-known Hong Kong Marxist …” according to the report “At Least 14 Arrests of Prominent Supporters of the Protest Movement in Hong Kong” published on April 18, 2020, by Forum Arbeitswelten regarding the current wave of repression in Hong Kong. Trade union statements of solidarity and calls to action regarding the wave of arrests in Hong Kong:
  • Following their sentencing by the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal to seven years in prison each, an international campaign is calling for the release of labor union leader Lee Cheuk-yan and human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung New
    “On August 21, 2026, the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal convicted Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of inciting subversion of state power under the National Security Law (NSL). On September 11, Lee was sentenced to seven years in prison; Chow received seven years and three months. Lee is the founder and chairman of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, the largest independent labor federation, which was forced to dissolve under the NSL. His only crime was his courage. Lee has fearlessly championed the rights of working people and democracy. Our message—the message of millions of trade unionists around the world—could not be clearer: Free Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung—immediately .” LabourStart campaign externer Link “Hong Kong: Freedom for Lee Cheuk-yan NOW!” dated September 11, 2026, in collaboration with the International Trade Union Confederation, the Building and Wood Workers’ International, Education International, the International Federation of Journalists, and the Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor.
  • Ahead of the trial scheduled to begin on January 22, 2026, the Hong Kong Labor Rights Monitor is calling for renewed letters of protest on behalf of Lee Cheuk-yan, former general secretary of the HKCTU, and Chow Hang-tung, a human rights lawyer
    “… I am writing to draw your attention to the case against Lee Cheuk-yan, former General Secretary of the HKCTU, and Chow Hang-tung, a human rights lawyer. The two have been charged with ‘inciting subversion of state power’ due to their roles in the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (Hong Kong Alliance). The case, which has been unjustifiably delayed for over four years, is scheduled to be heard in court on January 22, 2026. With this letter, I earnestly appeal to your organization to heed the international call for solidarity and to support these political prisoners who are being persecuted for their beliefs. (…) The two defendants have long been committed to the struggle for democracy and the defense of human rights, and they consistently stand up for those who suffer from injustice and oppression. In particular, Lee Cheuk-yan, who comes from a strong labor movement, is one of Hong Kong’s most respected and prominent independent labor leaders. He played a key role in founding the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions in 1990 (since dissolved) and served as its executive director and general secretary. Lee was also active in the international labor movement. The HKCTU is part of an independent and militant trade union movement and a member of the International Labor Network of Solidarity and Struggle.
    In this critical situation, we urgently need the support and solidarity of labor allies and human rights activists around the world to draw attention to this unjust trial and demand the immediate release of the two defendants.
    We respectfully ask that you refer to the attached sample letter and consider sending a letter expressing your concern to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country, or to the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We also encourage you to issue public statements or organize solidarity actions to inform your members and the public about this case, and to urge your government to express its concerns to the authorities in Hong Kong through diplomatic channels…“     From the message in English by Christopher Mung of the Hong Kong Labor Rights Monitor (machine-translated) to the International Labor Network of Solidarity and Struggle—see the sample letter:
  • #FreeLeeCheukYan: A campaign by the global labor movement ahead of the January 2026 trial calling for the release of the labor activist in Hong Kong . “Free
    Lee Cheuk-yan” is an international campaign by the global labor movement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Lee Cheuk-yan, a lifelong advocate for workers’ rights and democracy in Hong Kong. Lee, the former general secretary of the now-dissolved Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), has been detained since 2021 and is being prosecuted under the People’s Republic of China’s National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong for alleged “incitement to subvert state power”—a charge that criminalizes peaceful activism and silences pro-democracy voices.
    The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and trade unions worldwide stand in solidarity with Lee and all those who continue to advocate for democracy and freedom of association in Hong Kong.
    Join us and, together with us, demand the following
    from the Hong Kong government: 1) Drop all charges against Lee Cheuk-yan.
    2) Drop all charges against Chow Hang-tung, who faces similar allegations.
    3) Release all union members and activists who have been detained for exercising their rights.
    4) Repeal the National Security Law (NSL) and the National Security Ordinance (NSO).
    5) Respect international human rights standards, including freedom of association and freedom of expression. (…)
    The “Free Lee Cheuk-yan” campaign focuses on his upcoming trial, which was originally scheduled for November 11, 2025, and has now been postponed to January 22, 2026. Through this campaign, we aim to strengthen our solidarity and reaffirm our demand for Lee Cheuk-yan’s release before, during, and after the trial—until he is free.
    On the day of his trial, January 22, 2026,     Lee Cheuk-yan will have been in custody for 1,742 days and will have endured a long period of pretrial detention. Furthermore, he has repeatedly been denied release on bail. Under the NSL, defendants must prove that they do not pose a “risk to national security” in order to be released on bail. This strict bail condition violates the right to a fair and expeditious trial under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
    Fellow activist Chow Hang-tung, who is also charged in the same case, has been placed in solitary confinement on multiple occasions. This practice highlights the erosion of the rule of law and civil and political rights under the NSL. (…)
    What can labor unions do?
     Lee Cheuk-yan’s struggle does not concern only Hong Kong. It is about defending the universal rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and democracy.
    Join us in taking action for #FreeLeeCheukYan and fighting for democracy in Hong Kong and wherever it is under attack:
    – Raise awareness – Share Lee’s story in your networks, at union meetings, and on social media using the hashtag #FreeLeeCheukYan.
    – Demand action – Write to your government and urge it to call for Lee’s release and the repeal of the NSL and the NSO
    .– Organize solidarity actions – Organize public actions in support of Lee Cheuk-yan. Spread the #FreeLeeCheukYan message on social media. Issue statements to join the growing global call for his release
    .– Sign the petition – Stay tuned for the online petition that Amnesty International will launch on December 10. – Defending
    democracy is not a crime! Free Lee Cheuk-yan!” ITUC/IGB campaign launched on November 24, 2025 (in English): externer Link (“Free Lee Cheuk-yan,” machine-translated), including background information (see also below) and a list of repressive actions against independent unions and civil society organizations since 2020; see also:
  • The Situation in Hong Kong Today and the Lives of Exiles: Repression Against Labor Activists Continues “Repression
    in Hong Kong remains at an extremely high level. The Hong Kong Labor Rights Monitor highlights the repression against journalists (…) Repression against labor activists continues. (…) The Hong Kong Labor Rights Monitor writes: The verdict in NSL47 is still pending. Carol Ng, former chair of the HKCTU, and Winnie Yu, former chair of the HAHE, have been detained for three years and two years and four months, respectively. Freedom for all Hong Kong political prisoners! Stop the political persecution! (…) The Hong Kong diaspora, through its activities in the UK (…), is organizing protests together with British labor activists. (…) A protest for workers’ rights is taking place outside Apple’s flagship store in London’s Covent Garden: “From Apple’s factories in China to the stores on our shopping streets. End forced labor, recognize free unions, end collaboration with censorship!” (…) At the same time as the protest in London, an action took place at the Apple store in Birmingham…“ Reports from March 4, 2024, on the Forum Arbeitswelten website externer Link, featuring many photos and a video