On 25 June 2025, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance that impose lifetime bans on individuals convicted of national security offenses from forming or holding leadership positions within trade unions. The amendments also prohibit such individuals from registering new unions, with no possibility of exemption by the Chief Executive. For comparison, those convicted of fraud or criminal organization membership face only five-year bans. The new law requires unions to disclose financial contributions from foreign actors and grants authorities additional powers to reject union registrations on national security grounds. The amendments will take effect on 5 January 2026. Labour Minister Chris Sun stated the changes were necessary after trade unions were used as “cover” for activities endangering national security following the 2019 protests.
These measures have serious implications for the enabling environment for civil society, as they curtail participation, reduce transparency, and eliminate avenues for accountability. The disproportionate penalties compared to other offenses suggest a targeted effort to suppress dissent, undermining civic freedoms and weakening the role of trade unions as legitimate actors in public discourse and policy advocacy.