Hong Kong has three privately owned television stations and a commercial radio station. In 1997, the PLC approved amendments to the Societies Ordinance. In 1997, authorities listed advocacy of Taiwanese or Tibetan independence as grounds for banning demonstrations. Organizers of some demonstrations, particularly those critical of Beijing, say police often impose last-minute restrictions. According to Amnesty International, police have sometimes used heavy-handed methods to keep protesters in demonstration areas that are often far from the targets of the protests.
Unions are independent.
The Trade Union Ordinance places some restrictions on organizing and allows authorities to monitor union administration. In 1997, the PLC repealed five laws on collective bargaining, anti-union discrimination, and the right to associate internationally without first notifying the government. The amendments also prohibit the use of trade union funds for political purposes. Workplace anti-discrimination legislation is inadequate, and women are discriminated against in employment matters. In May, authorities closed the last detention center for Vietnamese refugees, with the 32 remaining detainees moved to mainstream prisons.