Pro-Beijing union coalition urges Hongkong Post to reverse halt on permanent contracts

A pro-Beijing union coalition has urged Hongkong Post to reconsider halting the offering of permanent civil servant contracts to new hires. The coalition argues that the move to cut operating costs, expected to affect 200 postal workers, is premature and should involve further consultation. Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Bill Tang and his colleagues met with government officials to express deep concern over the new employment terms.

They requested the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Civil Service Bureau, and the postal service to prioritize communication with trade unions before making final decisions. The decision comes after Hongkong Post announced it would only offer two-year contracts to new hires whose probation periods end during or after September.

Postmaster General Leonia Tai cited declining mail traffic, which dropped 12% year-on-year, as the reason for the change. The post office reported record losses of HK$821 million last year, down from HK$554 million in 2024. The union argues that the government has ample financial resources and that the recent bailout approved by the Legislative Council should provide sufficient support for the post office's operations.