NED grants to Hong Kong (1994 to 2015)

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was established to act as a conduit to disperse US Government funds for ‘promoting democracy’, allocated by Congress to its four core grantees:

(1) The Free Trade Union Institute, representing the labor sector,

(2) The Center for International Private Enterprise, representing the business sector,

(3) The National Democratic Institute, representing the Democratic Party,

(4) The National Republican Institute, representing the Republican Party¹.

The NED also disperses grants directly to participants. The NED first started funding activities in Hong Kong in 1994.  The following is a timeline of NED grants to Hong Kong since 1994, compiled from information in NED Annual Reports, giving details of the recipients and justifications for the grants:

1994

Free Trade Union Institute - $430,472 -To support the Asian American Free Labor Institute's "Greater China" program, which promotes worker rights in China; disseminates information on labor rights abuses; assists unions in Hong Kong in their efforts to strengthen democratic practices, and aids independent labor rights organizations in Taiwan.

1995

Free Trade Union Institute - $435,753 - To enable the Asian American Free Labor Institute to support the work of leading labor activists both inside China and in exile, including the monthly publication of the Chinese-language China Labour Bulletin; to cooperate with Hong Kong-based groups to document Chinese labor rights abuses, especially in the region around Hong Kong; to develop informational materials for workers in that area; and to strengthen the Confederation of Trade Unions, a key component of Hong Kong's democracy movement, by helping it upgrade its communications and research capabilities.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - $30,000 - To focus local and international public attention on areas of Hong Kong law and practice that do not safeguard human rights.

International Republican Institute - $25,000 - To conduct an assessment of the 17 September 1995 legislative elections in Hong Kong.

1996

Free Trade Union Institute - $359,393 - Through the Asian American Free Labor Institute: for the monitoring of labor rights violations and dissemination of information on rights to workers in China; for the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions to retain member support after the Chinese takeover through contributions to public debate, regular distribution of a newsletter, and maintenance of their headquarters as a rallying point and resource center for democracy activists; and for a regional conference to expand cooperation among labor activists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, and China.

University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law - $60,000 - To equip and train three additional local partners in China to expand the Law-on-Line project, a bilingual database of information and documentation on human rights laws and legal issues available on the Internet.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - $36,000 - To hire a full-time staff director to coordinate the organization's work in human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education.

1997

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - $40,000 - To focus local and international public attention on areas of Hong Kong law and practice that fail to safeguard human rights. The Monitor works to strengthen the foundations of and commitment to the rule of law in Hong Kong.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - $100,120 - To monitor the development of Hong Kong's "post-reversion" election framework, the election process, and the ability of political parties and civic groups to participate in the process.

1998

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - $343,778 - To help the China Labor Bulletin, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, and Hong Kong-based labor rights groups promote worker and union rights in the greater China region.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - $45,000 - To draw local and international public attention to areas of Hong Kong law which fail to safeguard human rights. Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor projects include human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - $141,877 - To monitor the state of civil and political liberties in Hong Kong and its progress toward a genuinely democratic electoral system. NDI supported a democratic assessment team that analyzed the political environment and technical preparations for the May 1998 polls.

1999

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - $202,399 - To support the work of the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin to investigate and document labor conditions and worker activism in China. The program also includes support for labor and human rights education efforts to inform workers about their rights under national and local laws.

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - $170,997 - To provide support to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions to improve its membership outreach and coalition-building activities. ACILS will also support the research and documentation activities of a labor rights NGO concentrating on conditions in southern China.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - $48,000 - To campaign for improvements in legal and institutional human rights safeguards in Hong Kong. The Monitor will continue its program of human rights reporting, case work, campaigning, and public education, and will also participate in the U.N. human rights fora.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - $67,164 -To support democracy activists as they define their role in the new political system in Hong Kong that limits opportunities for public input into the policy-making process. The program will offer consultations to political parties competing for seats on directly elected local governments, and conduct a training program on grassroots organizing and volunteer recruitment.

2000

The American Center for International Labor Solidarity - $184,560 - To assist democratic unions and labor rights organizations in Hong Kong working to protect worker and union rights in the South China region.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor- US$48,000 - To carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning and public education drawing local and international public attention to the Hong Kong laws and practices that fail to safeguard human rights.

2001

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - $198,073 - To assist democratic unions and labor rights organizations in Hong Kong that are working to protect worker and union rights in the South China region. 

International Republican Institute - $409,850 - To train local election officials and newly elected village leaders; host a conference in Hong Kong to discuss campaign techniques in developing and developed countries; provide consultation on legislative drafting; sponsor a delegation of lawyers and legal aid supervisors to observe a successful legal aid program in a developing country; and support a program engaging the Chinese government in dialogue to strengthen accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. 

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - $209,778 - To provide comparative research findings to educate legislative staff members, researchers and students on democratic norms; organize two seminars on democratic legislative processes; and assist democratic reform in Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$51,000 - To combine legal defense of civil rights with public campaigns and education to cultivate public opinion favorable to democratization and the rule of law.

2002

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - $198,063 - To assist democratic unions and labor rights organizations in Hong Kong that are working to protect worker and union rights in the South China region.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$51,000 - To carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education, drawing local and international public attention to areas of Hong Kong law and practice that fail to safeguard human rights.

2003

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - US$260,434 - To collaborate with the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and other Hong Kong-based labor rights NGOs to provide basic training and education on trade union rights and other labor rights. The coalition will strengthen the work of the Yuen Long training center, which conducts leadership workshops, educates unemployed workers in government-sponsored job retraining courses, and conducts research to determine what types of manpower training and skills assessment best serve the needs of the workers in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$60,000 - To carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning and public education, drawing local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - US$179,999 - To provide technical assistance and training to Hong Kong political parties to strengthen the role of parties in Hong Kong, and to support pro-democracy civil society organizations in their efforts to draw attention to the deterioration of political rights in the territory.

2004

Civic Exchange - US$125,000* - To build support for a democratic constitution. Civic Exchange will engage the public in consideration of potential constitutional reforms and advocate that the government seek citizen approval of any proposed constitution. Activities will consist of reports on Hong Kong's functional constituency system and the role of public dialogue in political development, as well as the organization of public forums, town hall style gatherings and formal debates.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$173,280* - To carry out a broad ranging program of education and monitoring to draw local and international attention to human rights and constitutional developments in Hong Kong. The Monitor will produce educational materials, issue in-depth reports, conduct programs in conjunction with schools and civic groups, hold a human rights film festival and organize public seminars.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) - US$190,000 - To strengthen political parties and support democratic activism. NDI will conduct political party consultations and training seminars; facilitate the development and publication of a multi-party public opinion poll and provide assistance in the development of voter guides in advance of the Legislative Council elections in September 2004.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) - US$50,000* - To work to improve the ability of Hong Kong civil society organizations to advocate for democratization and good governance in Hong Kong. NDI will support a Hong Kong partner to conduct a governance review and undertake a post-election assessment following the Legislative Council elections in September 2004. 

2005

Civic Exchange - US$45,000* - To promote informed debate on constitutional reform. Civic Exchange will carry out public opinion research and hold a public debate on models of constitutional reform, publish two papers that discuss selected reforms in mainland China and their relevance as points of reference for Hong Kong, and conduct outreach to the public on the broad spectrum of reform concerns.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$173,000* - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

2006

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - US$125,000 - To foster freedom of association and other worker rights. ACILS will support local trade-union education and outreach programs, as well as a research program raising international awareness regarding the current labor-rights situation in China.

Civic Exchange-US$86,000* - To engage the public in discussion of governance reforms. Civic Exchange will carry out a diverse program of research and public education on key topics related to universal suffrage and electoral and constitutional reform.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor- US$175,000* - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

2007

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - US$135,000 - To foster freedom of association and other worker rights in China and Hong Kong. Local partners will seek to strengthen civil society by expanding the current labor union base, encouraging the participation of unions and their members in democratic processes, strengthening a migrant workers assistance network, and increasing union members’ access to legal assistance and knowledge of labor law.

Civic Exchange - US$64,983* - To engage the public in discussion of governance reforms. Civic Exchange will carry out a diverse program of research and public education on key topics related to universal suffrage and electoral and constitutional reform.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$170,000* - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

2008

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - US$125,456 - To foster freedom of association and other worker rights in China and Hong Kong. Local partners will seek to strengthen civil society by building members’ advocacy capacity, expanding the current labor union base, encouraging the participation of unions and their members in democratic processes, strengthening a migrant workers assistance network, and increasing union members’ access to legal assistance and knowledge of labor law.

Civic Exchange - US$59,967* - To engage the public in discussion of governance reforms. Civic Exchange will carry out a diverse program of research and public education on key topics related to universal suffrage and electoral and constitutional reform.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor – US$170,000* - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

2009

American Center for International Labor Solidarity – US$130,860 - To promote freedom of association by building the capacity of democratic trade unions in Hong Kong. The Solidarity Center will work with its local partner to support initiatives for collective bargaining, member organizing and civic empowerment.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$170,000 - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil rights and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) - US$272,140 - To advance the dialogue between citizens and political actors on constitutional reforms. Through sponsoring public forums and a political participation website, NDI will support local civil society organizations to analyze and provide recommendations on the government’s proposal for constitutional reform.

2010

American Center for International Labor Solidarity- US$148,869 - To promote freedom of association by strengthening democratic trade unions in Hong Kong. The Solidarity Center will work with its local partners to support collective bargaining, membership organizing, civic empowerment and research.

2011

American Center for International Labor Solidarity- US$153,106 - To expand worker rights by building the capacity of democratic trade unions in Hong Kong. The Solidarity Center will work with its local partners to advocate for collective bargaining rights, promote citizens' political and community engagement on workplace issues, and raise international awareness of worker rights developments and violations in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor- US$170,000 - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out human rights reporting, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil rights and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

2012

American Center for International Labor Solidarity - US$139,532 - To continue to advance worker rights by building the capacity of democratic trade unions in Hong Kong. The Solidarity Center will work with its partners to advocate for collective bargaining rights, utilize local and international mechanisms to improve working conditions, and promote understanding of worker rights abuses and developments in China among the international labor movement and human rights community.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$155,000 - To raise the standards of human rights protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out human rights monitoring, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil rights and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - US$460,000 - To foster awareness regarding Hong Kong's political institutions and constitutional reform process and to develop the capacity of citizens - particularly university students - to more effectively participate in the public debate on political reform, NDI will work with civil society organizations on parliamentary monitoring, a survey, and development of an Internet portal, allowing students and citizens to explore possible reforms leading to universal suffrage.

2013

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor - US$145,000 - Protecting Human Rights and Encouraging Democratic Representation in Hong Kong To improve human rights protection and democratic representation in Hong Kong. The Monitor will carry out advocacy, human rights monitoring, casework, campaigning, and public education drawing local and international attention to civil rights and human rights developments in Hong Kong.

Solidarity Center - US$150,031 - Expanding Worker Rights and Democracy - To promote worker rights and support an independent voice for workers. The Solidarity Center will work with its partners to strengthen their organizing, bargaining and advocacy skills.  The project will also seek to build the capacity of trade unions that represent domestic workers to improve working conditions for their members.

2014

Solidarity Center - Freedom of Association - $154,669 - Expanding Worker Rights and Democracy - To advance worker rights and democracy and strengthen civil society in Hong Kong. The Solidarity Center will collaborate with its partners to strengthen the organizing, bargaining and advocacy skills of Hong Kong trade unions. The project will also seek to promote better understanding in the international labor and human rights communities about worker rights developments in China.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - Political Processes - $410,000 - Amplifying Citizens’ Voices in Hong Kong & China - To engage Hong Kong civic and political sectors in substantive dialogue around governance and electoral reform processes and to provide civic education for Chinese activists. NDI will assist efforts to promote citizens’ voices in Hong Kong’s political reform process and provide technical assistance to Chinese activists on organizational and advocacy skills. In Hong Kong, NDI will support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance. NDI will also conduct a young women’s leadership initiative.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - Political Processes - Supplement: $51,210 - Amplifying Citizens’ Voices in Hong Kong - To amplify citizens’ voices in Hong Kong’s political reform process and provide technical assistance to mainland Chinese activists on organizational and advocacy skills. In Hong Kong, NDI will support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance. NDI will also conduct a young women’s leadership initiative for up to 20 participants from mainland China and Hong Kong.

2015

Solidarity Center (SC) - Expanding Worker Rights and Democracy - $195,465 - To advance worker rights and democracy and strengthen civil society. The center will collaborate with partners to strengthen the organizing, negotiation, and advocacy skills of the Hong Kong trade unions regarding trade union and industrial relations issues. The project will also seek to promote understanding in the international labor and human rights communities about worker rights developments in China and to advocate for legal and judicial reforms that advance worker rights and collective bargaining.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) - Promoting Public Dialogue on Political Reform in Hong Kong and China - $343,750 - To promote public dialogue on political reform in Hong Kong and China. The institute will conduct an expert assessment mission to Hong Kong and draft a report for public dissemination and distribution to the diplomatic community, policymakers, and the media. The institute will invite international scholars and experts to conduct public seminars on comparative models of governance, and will also host workshops on legal advocacy to enable victims of violence to pursue protection, compensation, and justice.

NED Grants to Asia

More details of NED grants to Asia, including Hong Kong can be found at our sister blog here: NED Activities Asia

Reference

¹Oversight of the National Endowment for Democracy : hearings before the Subcommittee on International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth Congress, second session, May 14 and 20, June 11, 1986.

Congressional Oversight Hearings