The forced disbanding of the Professional Teachers’ Union is another flagrant breach by China of its international obligations to Hong Kong

Today, the Professional Teachers’ Union, Hong Kong’s biggest teaching union announced that it is disbanding as a result of pressure from the Chinese Government.

The teaching union, which has existed for 47 years and has 95,000 members, has increasingly come under pressure from the Hong Kong Government which announced it would no longer recognise it following pro-Beijing outlets describing the union as “a malignant tumour” that needs to be eradicated.

Kevin Yeung Yu-Hung, Hong Kong’s Education Secretary, this week called for teachers to rethink their association with the union and the Hong Kong Police Commissioner has said that the police will investigate the union for any potential national security violations.

Under Article 27 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, Hong Kongers are guaranteed the right and freedom to join trade unions and to strike.

Commenting on the disbanding of the Professional Teachers’ Union, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive, said:

“The forced disbanding of the Professional Teachers’ Union is a new low for human rights in Hong Kong. Not content with jailing pro-democracy activists, journalists, and students, Beijing and its acolytes in the Hong Kong Government have turned their attention to attacking trade unions and teachers under the pretence of state security.

China has once again flagrantly breached its international obligations to the people of Hong Kong and their previous commitments to respect their right and freedom to join and participate in trade unions.

The international community must respond by finally sanctioning Hong Kong and Chinese officials who appear to be breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration, suspending basic freedoms, and violating human rights on an almost weekly basis.”