Hong Kong Unison founder endorses decision to disband citing ‘exploitation’ fears

Hong Kong Unison’s founder has expressed support for its board’s decision to disband after 24 years of advocating for the city’s ethnic minority groups’ rights, saying she did not wish to see the organisation “exploited by opportunists for personal or political gain”.

The advocacy group announced its disbandment on Friday but John Tse Wing-ling, who was fired as Unison’s executive director along with the decision to dissolve, called the move “irresponsible” and a shock to donors and staff.

Unison’s founder Fermi Wong Wai-fun, who left the group in 2014, broke silence on Saturday, saying she fully understood the NGO’s decision as she noted the difficulties and challenges it faced.

“I fully support and respect the board’s decision and would like to express my sincere gratitude to every Board member over the past 24 years,” she wrote on her social media page.

Wong revealed that members of the ethnic minority community had shared their dissatisfaction with Tse in the past two years, although she chose to remain silent and leave the group’s governance with the board.

“Yesterday, a journalist shared with me a press release by Mr John Tse. After reading it, I was deeply shocked and disappointed by the falsehoods and misrepresentations it contained,” she wrote.