Former Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra musicians to file complaint with Labour Tribunal, claiming unfair dismissal over union activities

Three top musicians at the Chinese Orchestra whose contracts were ended prematurely after they called for the resignations of two senior officials will file a complaint with the Labour Tribunal today, claiming unfair dismissal for taking part in union activities.

Hsin Hsiao-ling, her elder sister Hsin Hsiao-hung, and Liu Yang, who were principals of the orchestra's , and sections respectively, will demand to be reinstated.

"We have sufficient arguments to prove our case," the younger Hsin said.

The orchestra council, its top decision-making body, denied all accusations. "We have never asked anyone to send us an application before organising or joining unions," council chairwoman Carlye Tsui Wai-ling said.

On February 17, the council cut short the services of the Hsin sisters, aged 46 and 51, and Liu, 42, ahead of the end of their contracts in August and sometime next year, respectively. They received an extra month's wages in line with the contracts' terms.

The council's move came less than a month after all three called publicly on January 25 for artistic director Yan Huichang and executive director Celina Chin Man-wah to step down over allegedly low artistic standards and poor governance.

Now, the trio claim union participation was the reason behind the decision.