We Could Be Next, But We'll Keep Going: HKJA

The chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), Ronson Chan, said on Wednesday he's concerned that his group could be next after the pro-democracy Professional Teachers' Union decided to disband a day earlier.

But both the HKJA and the Confederation of Trade Unions – whose fate is also uncertain because of its political stance – stressed they will remain dedicated to serving their sectors for as long as possible.

Chan noted it took just 11 days for the Professional Teachers' Union, the city's largest single-sector union, to come to the decision after it came under attack from state media.

But he said the HKJA has no plans to disband, insisting it has always been trying to defend press freedom and the labour rights of journalists.

"We have no intention or [have not done] anything to breach the national security law. And we don't think that we've done anything wrong or commit any crime. So we're just doing our own jobs as usual," Chan told RTHK.

He also noted that the Bar Association had survived strong state media attack in recent months.

But Chan conceded his group would be in a "passive" position should the authorities decide to launch a probe against them. He pointed out that the secretary for security has the power to freeze assets if he suspects the money has to do with an alleged national security offence.

The Confederation of Trade Unions, for its part, said it will insist on speaking up for grassroots workers despite the adversities faced by unionists and the civic society at large.

"The repeated threats and suppression from state media and the authorities forced the Professional Teachers' Union to disband. It's the victim of the government's intervention in the freedom of association," the confederation said in a statement.

"The continuously shrinking freedom of the civic society and the frightened state of the public will surely strike a blow to the labour movement. But the movement is never a smooth sailing, it will surely be harder going forward."

The confederation declined to comment on media reports that it's under probe by the national security police.