After 24 years of unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of ethnic minorities, the Hong Kong Unison announced its dissolution on February 28, 2025. The decision was reached during an extraordinary general meeting, where the overwhelming majority of the board voted for voluntary liquidation, reflecting what the chairperson, Cheung Ming-lin, termed as a "glorious conclusion" to the organization’s mission.
At the meeting, which took place at the organization’s headquarters, 17 members voted in favor of dissolution, with only one against. Cheung explained the decision, stating it was based on the belief the Unison had achieved its goals, particularly as public awareness of minority rights has increased over the years. She emphasized the move wasn't politically motivated nor financially driven. "Our historical mission has been completed," Cheung stated.
Former Executive Director John Tse, who was dismissed shortly after the decision was announced, expressed his disbelief over the reasoning for the dissolution. He characterized the justification as "absurd" and claimed it displayed irresponsibility, believing the organization still had significant work to do in combating racial discrimination. "To say the mission is complete when many still face discrimination is deeply misleading," Tse argued.
Cheung countered Tse's assertions, stating they had been contemplating dissolution for the past two to three years as the organization had transitioned from one with limited support for minority rights to one amid numerous other organizations and government initiatives focused on the same goals. She mentioned having conducted consultations with former board members about the decision to dissolve the Unison, claiming the overwhelming consensus was supportive.
The decision to dissolve the organization brought forth emotional responses from various stakeholders. Wang Wai-fun, the founder who has been out of the organization for over ten years, expressed her support for the board’s decision after being made aware of it. "This decision was not taken lightly. I support it fully as I believe it’s more honorable to dissolve than to let the organization be misused for gain," she said, reflecting on the trust she placed in the organization during her leadership.
Wang acknowledged receiving feedback from ethnic minority community members expressing dissatisfaction with Tse’s leadership, but she chose not to intervene at the time, holding firm to the governance structure of the organization. "My silence was out of respect for the board's authority," she noted.
Despite the support for dissolution, Tse has taken steps to establish a new organization named "Hong Kong Initiative for Diversity," aiming to continue advocating for the city’s ethnic minorities. He described the climate for minority rights as still fraught with challenges, pointing to enduring racism and discrimination as evidence of the work still required.
Responding to concerns about the urgency to dissolve, Cheung reiterated there were no economic or political pressures guiding the decision. She noted the Unison had approximately HKD 4 million remaining, which will be used to settle severance payments and could potentially be redistributed to other similar organizations should surplus funds remain.
The dissolution highlighted stark divisions over the current state of minority rights advocacy within Hong Kong. Tse’s perspective stands in sharp opposition to the board's view. He accused the board members of overlooking continued discrimination and fostering a narrow perspective on advocacy, which he viewed as limited to marches and slogans.
"It's as though some see the Unison as their personal enterprise, believing they can switch it off like it's just any business," Tse lamented. His sentiments were echoed by former project manager, Mok Wai-ya, who expressed disappointment, saying, "This is the backbone organization for ethnic minorities. Many initiatives were just beginning and now they will cease to exist, affecting countless individuals who rely on our services."
Cheung's announcement during the press conference included sentiments about the dissolution being so-called "glorious", referring to the legacy of what the Unison has accomplished rather than dismissing racial issues entirely. Both Tse and Mok call for continued oversight of minority rights services going forward.
Meanwhile, the current vice-chairman, Lai Kin-kwok, responded to inquiries about Tse’s departure, indicating he fully participated throughout the dissolution discussions. Lai suggested Tse's actions were misleading and implored the community to remain focused on the issues at hand rather than engage in disputes surrounding leadership. "We didn't want to fall down the rabbit hole of arguing about this," Lai remarked.
Even as some maintain optimism around ethnic minority issues and the overall progress made, the tensions surrounding the decisions made by the Unison's leaders reflect wider societal issues prevalent within Hong Kong. The challenges ethnic minorities face persist, indicating there’s still substantial work to be done.
The future of minority advocacy seems uncertain as the community braces for the impacts of the Unison's closure. The statement by Cheung during their final assembly, asserting the organization had fulfilled its purpose, leaves unresolved questions for many who believe the fight for racial equality is far from over.