Hong Kong’s NGOs isolated and confused by mainland China’s new law restricting activities, research finds
Why are groups based in the city that do work over the border considered ‘overseas’, one founder of a local organisation asks
The mainland’s adoption of a law governing overseas NGOs has sent a chill throughout the sector in Hong Kong that operates there, with some groups saying they had stopped work over the border, a study has found.
The research, released by the China Philanthropy Research Institute and China Global Philanthropy Institute, found many non-governmental organisations in the city felt alienated and uncertain after the law was passed in April. They said it was especially troubling the law categorised NGOs in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as overseas groups, even though they were based in China.
Organisations interviewed for the study said they felt mainland government agencies had undergone a change in attitude.
Some reported considerable increase in paperwork, and stricter and more complicated procedures to get projects or activities approved.
Some said their sponsors had asked them to suspend their work on the mainland. Others declined to even be interviewed, citing concerns over the law.
One founder of an unidentified Hong Kong NGO was quoted as saying the group was started in 1998 and all its members were Hongkongers. Given Hong Kong was part of China, they should be treated as local NGO, the founder said.