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
