China labor rights group shuts down in latest setback for civil society in Hong Kong

[ad_1] A Hong Kong-based labor rights group based by outstanding Chinese language labor activist Han Dongfang has introduced it's shutting down after three a long time of monitoring employees’ protests in China, citing monetary difficulties and debt woes.

The closure of China Labor Bulletin, introduced Thursday, got here as authorities launched a brand new nationwide safety investigation into six unnamed folks and one group suspected of “colluding with a overseas nation.”

Shortly after officers launched the probe, China Labor Bulletin – which receives funding from varied foundations primarily based exterior China – introduced its closure, saying: “The corporate is now not in a position to keep operations and has determined to dissolve and provoke the related procedures.”

Radio Free Asia couldn't instantly attain Han, a long-time contributor to RFA’s Mandarin Service, producing radio segments specializing in employees’ points in China.

However Han, who based China Labor Bulletin in 1994, advised Taiwan’s Central Information Company that the shutdown was his choice and that he would stay in Hong Kong.

The bulletin advocated for the rights of Chinese language employees and supplied them authorized assist. It has served as a supply of data for activists, journalists, and students on employee points and unrest in China.

In its assertion, the bulletin mentioned: “As of at the moment, our web site will cease updating content material and different social media platforms have additionally been eliminated,” the assertion mentioned.

RFA discovered that China Labor Bulletin’s web site appeared to have been shut down on Friday, displaying a bunch error message, and its social media accounts on Fb and Instagram have been deactivated.

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Authorities on Thursday executed court-approved searches of the properties of the six folks and an workplace, positioned in Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung district, of the group beneath investigation, seizing financial institution paperwork and tools. All six people have been required to give up their journey paperwork.

The authorities didn't present the names of the six folks or the group beneath investigation.

The event underscores Beijing’s systematic dismantling of Hong Kong’s once-vibrant civil society, as authorities proceed utilizing broad nationwide safety provisions to research suspected overseas collaboration and power long-established organizations to shutter operations.

Because the implementation of Hong Kong’s Nationwide Safety Regulation in 2020, a minimum of 58 civil society organizations have been pressured to disband.