Hong Kong’s biggest opposition trade union has confirmed it is in the process to disband and expects to dissolve early next month over concerns for “members’ personal safety”.

The announcement by the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU) on Sunday came a day after its chief executive Mung Siu-tat revealed he had already resigned and left the city because of “imminent political risks and safety concerns”.

“Over the past one to two weeks, our members have received more messages,” chairman Joe Wong Nai-yuen said. “We felt that the continued operation of the CTU could bring risks to members’ personal safety. When our existence itself is already an original sin, even with the resignation of our leaders, it would not make a difference.”

He did not say who the messages came from or what they were about.

Speaking at a press conference at the confederation’s offices in Yau Ma Tei, an emotional Wong said that after thorough discussions and “considering the risks and costs of continuing to run the CTU”, the union’s executive committee members had agreed to begin the process to fold during a meeting on Thursday.

CTU chief Mung Siu-tat has left the city, citing safety concerns.

A resolution to that effect was expected to be put forward at an extraordinary general meeting on October 3, with four-fifths of votes from participating affiliated unions supporting the dissolution for the move to go ahead.

“I also hope to apologise to our affiliated unions, as well as all Hongkongers, as we, the CTU, can no longer hold on and march forward,” Wong said.

He added that most of the confederation’s executive committee members, of which there were about 20, had resigned. Only he, vice-chairman Leo Tang Kin-wa, and treasurer Chung Chung-fai had remained to handle the disbandment.

Formed 31 years ago, the CTU is one of several opposition and activist groups targeted by authorities since the Beijing-imposed national security law
came into effect in June last year.

Pro-Beijing media accused the group of “colluding with foreign forces” during the anti-government protests in 2019, when it advocated general strikes and encouraged workers to set up new trade unions to seek greater democracy.

It was an accusation the confederation refuted, pointing out that links with international labour unions was “legal” and normal practice.

Several groups with which the CTU has links, including the city’s biggest educators body, the Professional Teachers’ Union, as well as the Civil Human Rights Front, an umbrella group behind some of the city’s largest protests, had already decided to fold under pressure from authorities.

On Saturday, Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee said the force would “definitely follow up on illegal acts or national security violations by any groups” when asked whether the CTU was being investigated.

The group, which represented more than 80 affiliates and around 140,000 members as of last month, was co-founded by former opposition lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan in 1990, and was influential in past labour movements, such as the 2013 strike by dock workers, which lasted for 40 days.

Lee was sentenced to 14 months in jail in April over an unauthorised assembly, and earlier this month was charged with inciting subversion in relation to the annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Lee Cheuk-yan (left) and Carol Ng (centre) at a Mong Kok street booth on Labour Day last year.

Former CTU chairwoman and flight attendant Carol Ng Man-yee was among 47 opposition activists charged with subversion earlier this year in relation to an unofficial primary election in July 2020.

Separately, the CTU also confirmed it would gradually stop running around 200 training courses at its 15 centres, affecting about 1,000 people.

Labour and welfare minister Law Chi-kwong had previously said the government was looking for ways to minimise the effect by possibly seeking help from other groups.

Lam Kam-piu, chairman of the 500-member New World First Bus Company Staff Union, an affiliate of the CTU, said he regretted the confederation’s plans to disband, but understood the reasons for doing so.

“It is also a pity that our government isn’t tolerant enough,” he said, adding his union had not yet decided whether it would vote in favour of disbanding.

Lam also said the CTU’s many training courses had helped workers switch careers upon retirement, such as becoming security guards or cleaners.