Human rights

Biting the rotten Apple: Taking on Foxconn
Jenny Chan talks about her campaigning with workers in China

Electronics: There is still a long way – Interview with Jenny Chan on employment law training at HP’s suppliers in China.

This chapter argues that participatory training in labour rights is a complementary strategy in relation to supplier auditing in advancing CSR.

In 2010 a startling 18 young migrant workers attempted suicide at Foxconn Technology Group production facilities in China.

If stalking law was passed, Hong Kong journalist may no longer took their pictures at Henry Tang’s mansion in this way (Picture from)

[Note: The Hong Kong government is consulting the public on stalking. Journalists and activists are worried that their right of reporting and demonstration will be threatened. Chong Yiu-kwong, a Hong Kong lawyer, wrote articles to express view on this issue.]

Chinese original text:Ming Pao (25.2.2012)

Would the magnificent view of derrick cars lining up outside Henry Tang’s (Hong Kong former Financial Secretary, current candidate of Chief Executive election 2012) mansion still appear after stalking is legislated? Whoever from the pro-government camp win the election would very likely push for this regulation that shelter the powerful and the rich.

Stalking law may threaten Hong Kong freedom of press and assembly.

[Editor: The Hong Kong government is consulting the public on stalking. Journalists and activists are worried that their right of reporting and demonstration will be threatened. Chong Yiu-kwong, a Hong Kong lawyer, wrote articles to express view on this issue.]

Chinese original text Apple daily (27.2.2012)

The government is consulting the public on stalking. There have been a number of abuses in Britain after stalking was legislated. In 2007, Npower, a British energy company accused demonstrators for harassing their staff and applied for a restraining order according to anti-stalking acts in order to get rid of demonstrators and stop journalists from reporting. An exemption was granted after 3 months of legal process. Articles in The Guardian pointed out that the British anti-stalking acts had been used to suppress demonstrations. In 2001, a group of demonstrators who protested at a US military intelligence agency were prosecuted under the anti-staling acts as American staff felt harassed by the slogan “George W Bush? Oh dear!” written on the signboard held up by demonstrators. In 2004, a woman sent an email to the administration staff of a medicine company twice, urging them to stop using animals for experiments. Despite her politeness she was arrested. Laws in Hong Kong are greatly influenced by cases in Britain, abuses as such would easily happen frequently if stalking is legislated.

Caption: Shall Hong Kongers enjoy freedom of assembly if the anti-stalking law is passed?

After Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Tsang took office, his tough measures against the demonstrators have raised social concerns about the anti-stalking legislation. Law Reform Commission (hereinafter referred to as "LRC") published "anti-stalking" consultation document on 19 December last year which is called "The press 23" by the society. According to the document, stalking "may be described as a series of acts directed at a specific person which, taken together over a period of time, causes him to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed”. These acts might not be objectionable but, when combined over a period of time, interfered with the privacy and family life of the victim, and causing him distress, alarm or ever serious impairment of his physical or psychological well being. These acts may cause annoying or panic but still lawful at the beginning act, evolve into a dangerous, violent or likely to cause others to death. If a person ought to have known a course of conduct which amounted to harassment of the other, he should be guilty of a criminal offense. A maximum penalty would be a fine of $ 100,000 and imprisonment for two years, and with civil liability. The victim would be able to claim damages for any distress, anxiety and financial loss resulting from the pursuit and apply for an injunction to prohibit the stalker from doing anything which causes him alarm or distress.

(30-second short video statement) http://www.publiceye.ch/en/vote/foxconn/

At least 18 workers committed suicide at Foxconn in 2010. They were internal migrants from the countryside in the 17 to 25 age group.

In the 21st century China, India, Mexico and other countries, Foxconn workers have “nothing to lose but their chains” (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, 1848, The Communist Manifesto).

(Editor note: This article is originally written in Chinese by An Tao at inmediahk.net on October 10, 2010, commenting on the 2010 Nobel Peace Award to Chinese dissident writer Liu Xiaobo. The writer explores the usage of the term "peace" in contemporary China and the implication and practice of Liu Xiaobo's peaceful act in such context.)

Over the years, I have been puzzled by the swift change of discourse from the “powerful rise” of China to its “peaceful rise”. Peace is neither derived from Marxist-Leninst principles, nor observed by the Chinese Communist regime as a virtue. How the slogan of “peaceful rise” can be realized remains in doubt.

The meaning of “peaceful rise” per se is confusing enough. Does it mean that a rising power is still peace-loving and unthreatening to other countries, or peace is a feasible or even necessary strategy during the rise of a nation?