UNCLAS SECTION 2 OF 34 HONG KONG 15680
F.0. 12356: N/A
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TAGS: PGOV, ELAB, HK
SUBJECT: THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
OF ITS CURRENT LEADING MEMBERS ARE LOCAL DEPUTIES TO CHINA'S NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (NPC) OR THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE (CPPCC), DRAFTERS OF THE BASIC LAW OR MEMBERS OF THE DISBANDED HONG KONG BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE. POLITICALLY, THE FTU IS GENERALLY SEEN AS A COMMUNIST LABOR FRONT TOEING THE PARTY LINE, SERVING AS A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PRC AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FINANCIALLY, THE FTU, DESPITE ITS CLAIM TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING, IS REGARDED AS A PRC-SUBSIDIZED LABOR FEDERATION BECAUSE OF ITS ABILITY TO PAY FOR MANY CAPITAL-INTENSIVE UNDERTAKINGS SUCH AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NON-PROFIT REGIONAL OFFICES AND WORKERS CLUBS. THE FTU-PRC RELATIONSHIP HIT A LOW DURING THE JUNE 4 CRACKDOWN LAST YEAR, WHEN A NUMBER OF THE FTU'S CONSTITUENT UNIONS OPENLY CONDEMNED THE PRC'S BRUTALITY AND SOME OF THEM EVEN TOCK PART IN THE PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS. SINCE THEN HOWEVER, THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE FTU HAS RESUMED. AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE LATTER S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PUBLICITY DRIVE OF THE BASIC LAW.
FTU & THE 1991 ELECTIONS:
7.
COMING UNDER INCREASING CHALLENGE FROM THE CTU, THE FTU IS STRIVING TO MAKE ITSELF A VIABLE COMPETITOR IN THE 1991 ELECTIONS. ITS POLITICAL POTENTIAL HINGES UPON AN ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER PRO-PRC LEFT-WING BODIES AND LIKE-MINDED CONSERVATIVE GROUPINGS, ITS ABILITY TO SEEK IMPROVED CONTACTS WITH THE WORKING POPULACE THROUGH TANGIBLE WELFARE BENEFITS AND A FULL MOBILIZATION OF ITS 170,000 MEMBERS, AND THE LAUNCHING OF PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS IN THE PRC-CONTROLLED MEDIA. (NOTE: THE CTU CLAIMS THAT THE FTU MEMBERSHIP DOES NOT EXCEED 50,000 AND THAT IT CAN MOBILIZE ONLY ABOUT 3,000 INDIVIDUALS.)
8. IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE ITS CHANCES OF SUCCESS IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS, THE FTU PLANS TO ALLY ITSELF WITH OTHER PRO-BEIJING ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF EDUCATION WORKERS, THE HONG KONG CHINESE REFORM ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ASSOCIATION OF SOCIETIES, IN A BID TO EXPAND ITS BASE OF ELECTORAL SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, THE FTU ALSO INTENDS TO MAKE AN ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED CONSERVATIVE GROUPS TO COORDINATE THEIR ELECTORAL RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES. THESE GROUPS, CHARACTERIZED BY A COMMON DESIRE TO PREVENT THE LIBERAL CAMP FROM SCORING A LOPSIDED VICTORY IN NEXT YEAR'S DIRECT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (LEGCO) ELECTIONS, INCLUDE THE PRO-BUSINESS PROGRESSIVE HONG KONG SOCIETY, THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION, AND THE CONSERVATIVE RURAL ORGANIZATION, THE HEUNG YEE KUK.
UNCLASSIFIED
HONGKONG
215580/02
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