25 Unions and Social Groups Demand Universal Suffrage and Economic Betterment

 

Today, the 24th September 2014, 25 Hong Kong social groups and unions, including the Confederation of Trade Unions, held a press conference to release its statement of support for universal suffrage and economic betterment, in the midst of a one week long student class boycott. The statement criticizes the political reform package presented by the China’s People’s Congress and the Hong Kong government for favoring the rich and the proposed method of choosing the Chief Executive as a fake election.

It also criticizes the economic policy of laissez-faire for only favoring the business sector, resulting in an un-regulated labor market and the lack of social security.

The handover of HK’s sovereignty to China has changed nothing of the colonial system of favoring the rich. This is why, despite the social movement fighting for an improved pension system and for the regulating of work hours, the government continues to turn a deaf ear.

The coalition demands genuine universal suffrage and the implementation of laws on the regulation of work hours and an improved pension system. The statement also demands regular consultation between the government and the civil groups on all social policies.

Read the statement.