On March 9, Elizabeth Tang Yin-ngor, former Secretary-general of the now-dissolved Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), was arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Tang was released on bail on March 11.
Tang is the wife of Lee Cheuk-yan, former chairperson of the now-dissolved Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HK Alliance),
Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpiece, Wen Wei Pao, exclusively filmed Elizabeth Tang Yin-ngor, arrested outside the Stanley Prison at about noon on March 9.
Several police officers escorted Tang from the National Security Bureau onto an SUV.
According to various media reports, Elizabeth Tang left Hong Kong for the United Kingdom in September 2021. She did not return to Hong Kong until early March to visit her husband, Lee Cheuk-yan, who had recently fallen and been injured in Stanley Prison.
Tang was arrested and taken to the Stanley Prison Police Station and a residential unit in Mei Foo Estate for investigation at 4 p.m. The police did not leave until about 6:30 p.m. and detained Tang until March 11.
On the same day, the police confirmed to the media that they arrested a 65 years old woman on suspicion of colluding with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security.
According to various sources, Tang’s arrest was related to her tenure as the Asia Monitor Resource Centre director.
CCP’s mouthpieces, Wen Wei Pao and Tai Kung Pao, reported on March 10 that the Asia Monitor Resource Centre was “suspected of receiving foreign funding of over HK$118 million (US$15 million) over the past 26 years since 1994.”
The Asia Monitor Resources Center then published a statement following Tai Kung Pao’s report. It emphasized that it is an independent organization that was founded in 1968. The organization does not belong to any local or overseas institution.
The Asia Monitor Resources Center also stated their ongoing concern for the rights and interests of grassroots workers in Asian countries, especially occupational safety and health issues.
The organization also pointed out that due to the increasing pressure to operate in Hong Kong, the company had no choice but to cease operations and stop accepting donations at the end of September 2022. The company said it would find elsewhere to continue to serve Asian workers.
The Asian Monitor Research Center indicated on its Facebook page that the agency is currently located in Seoul, South Korea, marking Mabel Au as its director, former secretary of the now closed-down Amnesty International’s Hong Kong Branch.
In December 2022, the Asian Monitor Research Center held educational activities on the rights and interests of occupational and environmental pollution victims in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The events focused on pesticides, asbestos, cement production, and other pollution issues.
Elizabeth Tang graduated from the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong in 1980. Tang worked at Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee in 1982 and met her husband, Lee Cheuk-yan, in the company.
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee is under the umbrella of the Hong Kong Christian Council.
The group also stated that it is Independent of the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang. It intervenes in labor trends, encourages workers to organize trade unions, and fights for labor rights and interests.
In 1990, Szeto Wah, Lee Cheuk-yan, Tang Yin-ngor, and Lau Chin-shek established the HKCTU. Tang was transferred to the Global Federation of Houseworkers as an international secretary.
In October 2021, HKCTU disbanded under political pressure.
