Correspondence
Email sent to the contact address and the sales team at Hong Chang Corporation.
The email said: "I’m contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s food processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a business engaged in such practices and your supply chain.
Your suppliers Rizhao Meijia Keyuan Foods and Rizhao Meijia Aquatic are Meijia Group companies. The Meijia Group has received persons from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China under the state-imposed labor transfer program.
The United Nations, human rights organizations and academic experts agree that since 2018, the Chinese government has systematically subjected Xinjiang’s predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to forced labor across the country via state-sanctioned employment schemes which use coercive methods in worker enrollment. The U.S. has prohibited the importation of goods produced from state-imposed forced labor.
Does Hong Chang Corporation have any comment or statement to make in light of the above information? Please respond to this email by close of business May 25, 2023."
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed Hong Chang Corp: "I contacted you recently regarding your suppliers Rizhao Meijia Keyuan Foods and Rizhao Meijia Aquatic. I am emailing now concerning your suppliers Shandong Haidu Ocean Product Co. Ltd. and Rongcheng Runtong Aquatic Products Co. Ltd. Shadong Haidu and Rongcheng Runtong are Chishan Group company.
Fishing vessels owned by the group have been observed fishing in North Korean waters in contravention of UN sanctions and fishing illegally in Indonesian waters. The group also owns at least two reefer vessels which have transshipped with dozens of fishing ships tied to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as human rights abuses.
Shandong Haidu has also received persons from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China under the state-imposed labor transfer program.
Does Hong Chang Corporation have any comment or statement to make in light of this information or my previous email? Please respond to this email by close of business July 18, 2023."