China Labour Bulletin (CLB), a Hong Kong-based labor-rights group founded in 1994 by Han Dongfang, has ceased operations due to 'financial difficulties and debt issues,' becoming the latest civil society organization to shut down amid Hong Kong's national security crackdown. CLB, which provided legal support to Chinese workers and maintained a database of worker unrest, faced funding shortfalls and increased caution from international donors due to the 2020 national security legislation and a ban on 'foreign collusion.' Its closure is seen as a significant loss for scholars and activists tracking China's labor issues.
China Labour Bulletin, which tracked worker unrest for three decades from Hong Kong, shuts down
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️China Labour Bulletin (CLB), a Hong Kong-based labor-rights group founded in 1994 by Han Dongfang, has ceased operations due to 'financial difficulties and debt issues,' becoming the latest civil society organization to shut down amid Hong Kong's national security crackdown. CLB, which provided legal support to Chinese workers and maintained a database of worker unrest, faced funding shortfalls and increased caution from international donors due to the 2020 national security legislation and a ban on 'foreign collusion.' Its closure is seen as a significant loss for scholars and activists tracking China's labor issues.
Trending- 1 1989: Tiananmen Square protests (Han Dongfang a leader)
- 2 1993: Han Dongfang expelled to Hong Kong
- 3 1994: China Labour Bulletin (CLB) founded
- 4 1997: Hong Kong handover to Chinese rule
- 5 2020: National security legislation passed in Hong Kong
- 6 February 2025: Democratic Party announced plans to disband
- 7 May 2025: New legislation passed criminalizing disclosure of national security investigation info
- 8 June 12, 2025: Hong Kong police and Beijing's Office for Safeguarding National Security conducted joint operation
- 9 June 2025: China Labour Bulletin announced closure
- Loss of a vital source of information on China's labor issues
- Further shrinking of civil society space in Hong Kong
- Increased difficulty for Chinese workers to find support
- Potential information blackout on labor conflict
What: China Labour Bulletin (CLB), a Hong Kong-based labor-rights group, has shut down its operations.
When: As of this week (June 2025). Founded in 1994. Han Dongfang jailed for two years before 1993. Expelled to Hong Kong in 1993. Hong Kong handover in 1997. National security legislation passed in 2020. More than 1,500 worker incidents recorded in 2024. Democratic Party announced plans to disband in February 2025. New legislation passed last month (May 2025). Hong Kong police joint operation on Thursday (June 12, 2025).
Where: Hong Kong, China. Tiananmen Square (historical context).
Why: CLB cited 'financial difficulties and debt issues.' The article attributes this to the ongoing national security crackdown in Hong Kong, which has made NGOs cautious about accepting international donations and led to funding shortfalls.
How: CLB issued a statement announcing its decision to dissolve and initiate relevant procedures.