The Labour & Welfare Bureau and the Labour Department today issued a paper to the Legislative Council’s Manpower Panel, proposing amendments to the Trade Unions Ordinance in relation to safeguarding national security.

The proposed amendments would strengthen the statutory powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions in supervising and regulating trade unions, and seek to improve the trade union regulatory regime.

The Government said this would allow it to better fulfil its duty of safeguarding national security under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO).

It added that the amendments address the current situation with regard to local trade unions, complement the NSL and the SNSO, while protecting employees’ rights and their freedom to form and join trade unions pursuant to the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, and relevant international conventions.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said: “Apart from enhancing the mechanism for safeguarding national security, the proposed amendments will improve the trade union regulatory regime and promote the healthy development of trade unions, while giving due regard to the freedom and right of Hong Kong residents to form and join trade unions.

“I look forward to LegCo’s support for the proposed amendments.”

Members of the Labour Advisory Board expressed support for the major proposed amendments when the Labour Department consulted the board at a meeting on January 22.

The Government will consult the Manpower Panel on February 24 and plans to introduce an amendment bill to LegCo in April.