'Free the Hong Kong 45' model motion

We need trade unions and other labour movement organisations to build solidarity with the Hong Kong 45 and other political prisoners in Hong Kong and China. Please propose this motion to your trade union branch!

Motion: Free the Hong Kong 45!

This branch notes:

1. On 19 November, 45 defendants in the trial of the Hong Kong 47 democratic activists were sentenced to years in prison. Among them: 6 years 9 months for socialist former opposition lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, and nurse and former trade union leader Winnie Yu; and 4 years 5 months for aviation worker and trade union leader Carol Ng.
2. They were convicted under the tyrannical “National Security Law” simply for organising to stand for election as pro-democracy candidates and oppose their authoritarian government.
3. Other political prisoners in Hong Kong include former General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) Lee Cheuk-yan, imprisoned for “unauthorised protests” and also awaiting trial for “subversion”.
4. More than 200 trade unions, including those previously led by Lee, Yu and Ng, have been forced to disband under government pressure since the implementation of National Security Law. Independent trade unions are illegal in mainland China: only the government-controlled ACFTU is allowed.
5. 13 overseas Hong Kong democracy and labour activists were issued arrest warrants with bounties by the Hong Kong National Security Police. Six of them live in the UK in exile, including HKCTU's former chief executive Christopher Mung.
6. A trade unionists’ protest was organised by Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor and Workers Against the CCP at the Chinese Embassy on 30 November, demanding freedom for the Hong Kong 47 and other political prisoners.

This branch resolves:

1. To call for:

   1. Free Carol Ng, Winnie Yu, Leung Kwok-hung and all the HK45 - quash their convictions.

   2. Free Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and all Hongkongers repressed for pro-worker and pro-democracy activity.

   3. Free political prisoners in mainland China including feminist Huang Xueqin, workers’ rights activist Wang Jianbing, civil rights activist Xu Zhiyong and Uyghur intellectuals Rahile Dawut, Ilham Tohti and Perhat Tursun.

   4. Freedom to organise independent trade unions and political opposition in Hong Kong & China.

   5. Stop all forms of transnational repression.

2. To write to the Embassy of China and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London with these demands.

3. To contact Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor and Workers Against the CCP in order to keep in touch and support future solidarity protests for these political prisoners in future.

4. To send this motion to our union’s regional council.