Down with Crony Capitalist Politics!

Uphold a Dignified Livelihood!

The People's Address ON the Fifth Anniversary of HKSAR

On the fifth anniversary of the HKSAR we the people will not be in the mood to celebrate, instead what we have is frustration and agony.  While the sovereignty has changed, the bureaucratic capitalist cronyism of the colonial era is still in force and worse the democratic space and freedoms of the people are being further restricted bringing on another dark era for Hong Kong.  On this fifth anniversary of the HKSAR, the government will officially implement and systematize crony capitalist politics with the establishment of the so-called “Official Accountability System” that will only further marginalize the voice of the people.  

Bureaucratic capitalism and crony capitalist politics have already encroached every corner of people's lives worsening all aspects of grassroots and working people's basic livelihood and rights.  During this period of economic crisis and rising unemployment the HKSAR government does not only do nothing but instead further proposes to reduce the social welfare and rights of the people.  While worker's rights are being eroded and social services reduced capitalist exploitation is ever rampant and worsening.  The economic market is monopolized by a handful of crony capitalists who hold the major share of the wealth while the majority of the people bear ever worsening poverty. 

Today we the people strongly reprimand the top officials and large corporations that celebrate in extravagance amidst this ever-worsening social crisis.  We have lost faith in this undemocratic system and we assert that the drive to change society must come from the people themselves.  So we call upon all grassroots, community and labour organizations to unify and collectively demand the followings:

Political and Civil Rights:

l        Demand immediate universal suffrage to direct elect the all members of the Legislative Council and the HKSAR Chief Executive.

l        Oppose the Public Security Ordinance and demand protection of the basic rights to expression and assembly.

l        Implement a “Democratic Accountability System” which enables the government be accountable to the people of Hong Kong rather than the present “Official Accountability System” that only further centralizes power in the hands of the chief executives.

Labor and Employment:

l        To implement Minimum Wage Law and Maximum Work Hours (including Overtime) legislation to prevent further erosion of workers rights.

l        Oppose the government's proposal to reduce civil service salaries and lead the way in creating job instability.

l        Oppose the ‘4.18’ rule that excludes protection for casual and part-time workers under the Employment Ordinance.

l        Demand the government to stop privatization and contract out of public services to uphold quality of service and job security.

l        Legislate against discrimination on grounds of gender, race and age to protect the employment rights of middle-aged, women and racial minorities.

l        Establish an Unemployment Protection Scheme and Low-Income Family Supplement Scheme to protect the basic livelihoods of working families.

l        The Government should increase public spending to create jobs by enhancing community and social service provisions.

l        The Government must financially and structurally support economic co-operatives and community based economies.

l        Protect the rights of migrant workers and eliminate the systematized ‘middle-man’ exploitation of employment agencies.

Social Welfare and Community Services:

l        Oppose the proposed means test for Seniors Living Allowance (‘Fruit Allowance’) and demand an increase of the Seniors Living Allowance.

l        Stop the privatization of elderly services and implement monitoring for the quality of service and employment standards of private elderly homes.

l        Oppose any reduction of the CSSA social welfare scheme and eliminate discriminatory measures that prevent access to CSSA for unemployed workers.

l        Oppose the ‘user-pays' system and privatization of public health services.

l        Immediately reduce Public Housing Rent and abide by the government's own Public Housing Ordinance that requires public housing rent to remain less than the median income.  Protect the people's basic right to housing and stop the government's continued catering to large land developers.

l        Oppose any reduction to Social Welfare and Public Assistance Schemes leading to the lowering of protection for the disadvantaged groups.

l        Implement an all civilians Retirement Protection Scheme to uphold a decent livelihood for the elderly, home-based workers and the disabled.

Co-sign Organizations:

Grey Powers Centre, Concern Group On Fighting The Housing Right, Labor Rights  Commune, Grassroots Development Centre, Federation For Fighting The Housing Right Of The Grassroots, Hong Kong Domestic Helpers General Union, Hong Kong Women Workers Association, Hong Kong Federation Of Transport Workers' Organization, Society For Community Organization, Hong Kong Confederation Of Trade Unions, Justice And Peace Commission Of The Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, Power For Democracy, Neighbourhood And Workers' Service Centre, Sham Shui Po Community Association, Hong Kong Christian Institute, Catering And Hotels Industries Employees General Union, The Frontier, Clothing Industry,Clerical And Retail Trade Employees General Union, Construction Site Workers General Union, Government Employees Solidarity Union, Government Mod 1 Staff General Union, Association Of Government Cartograghic Staff, Association Of Government Technical And Survey Officers, Zi Tang, Asian Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong Catholic Commission For Labour Affairs, The Pioneer, Hong Kong Alliance In Support Of Patriotic Movements Of China, Association For The Advancement Of Feminism, Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, Personal Care Workers And Home Helpers Association, Mixer Truck Drivers Association