2/ Recently I have received several complaints from current workers at Apple Store in Hong Kong, who blasted the company’s managers for imposing restrictive guidelines at the workplace, including banning employees from wearing yellow masks or those printed with “Hong Kong”.
3/ Workers are also required not to decorate their Memojis with yellow or black accessories, the colours that are often interpreted as pro-protest support. Apple store managers even threatened to sack workers who refuse to change their #Memoji colours.
4/ The incident raises profound concerns over whether Apple introduces censorship at the workplace. As a global leader in innovation, there is a growing expectation that Apple should be the leading champion of free expression.
5/ Especially under the newly enacted national security law in the city, Apple is also expected to play a more active role to push back on Beijing’s censorship, both overt or covert, on free expressions, including Apple’s employees.
6/ As early as in 2013, you stressed that workplace equality is good for business, pledging to create a safe and welcoming workplace for employees and ensuring there is no need to check their identity at the door.
7/ After the tragic killing of George Floyd, you also issued an open letter to the company's employees to reiterate the importance of diversity and vow to "build an Apple that is inclusive of everyone." This inspirational message should be the core value that Apple stands for.
8/ Also, it should be applicable to its employees in Hong Kong. Since the saga will definitely undermine the company’s reputation and raise more doubts on its commitment to liberal values that its customers care most, I hope Apple can affirm its commitment...
9/ ...to the principle of freedom of expression and introduce concrete measures to protect employees from future workplace censorship. We look forwards to hearing from you.
All the best,
Joshua Wong
All the best,
Joshua Wong
