In March 2021, four organisers of the Hospital Authority Employees’ Alliance (HAEA) delivering public speeches on precautions about vaccinations and privacy protection of the government’s COVID-19 digital tracker were cordoned off by police officers. They were asked to provide their ID, close-up pictures were taken and there was videotaping.
Furthermore, the police continued to use the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gatherings) Regulation (Cap. 599G) to ban the 2021 May Day rally, advance notice of which was given by the HKCTU. Between May and August 2021, HKCTU, the HAEA, the GUHKST and other unions had been harassed and their members were cordoned off while also being photographed and videotaped or ticketed by police officers to disrupt them from communicating trade union messages to the public by setting up street booths; this action against the unions occurred under the prolonged ban on public gatherings under Cap 599G. The members’ IDs were also checked and information therefrom noted down.
HAEA organised member-exclusive screenings of films were requested by the Office for Films, Newspapers and Articles Administration to provide details and approvals.
