MAY DAY 2001: Hong Kong

From local reports

More than a thousand trade unionists affiliated to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions gathered in Victoria Park and marched through the streets to protest government neglect of working conditions and the unemployed.

It was emphasised that Labour Day in Hong Kong is not a time for celebration but for protest, as working conditions and treatment continued to slide under this new Chinese administration.

The Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council (TUC) marched on the central government headquarters. Speakers demanded the repeal of the labour law as it was 30 years old, and no longer suitable for modern working conditions.

A poll the TUC conducted with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions indicated that Hong Kong trailed behind modern countries on workers’ rights as it had no minimum wage policy (except for a pitifully low one exclusively for migrant workers), collective bargaining rights, or continuous contracts – a complex and contentious issue here.

In a display of interracial unity hundreds of migrant workers gathered in Central to demand better working conditions.

In a jovial atmosphere, migrant workers and support groups from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal, India, and Indonesia assembled to celebrate the day with speeches, and traditional song and dance. The artistic performances were welcomed with enthusiasm by the audience which joined in whenever possible. Traditional dress, and characteristic non-Chinese quality of song and dance attracted hundreds of passers-by.

Speeches called for an end to racial discrimination to which migrant workers are constantly subject, and an anti-racism law to enforce the demand.

It was noted that Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, had personally “branded” Hong Kong as “Asia’s World City” recently. But without equality of treatment such a claim was hollow in this enclave where discrimination is legally institution-alised to make decisions against migrant workers from China and other parts of Asia based on race and class.