10
Supplementary to Question No. 3
/Legc
in/LegCo on 3.88
MRS. TAM
Sir, I am happy to hear that Hong Kong stands
a very good chance to have the restrictions on employment
lifted.
inform this Council
But could the Secretary
whether there are plans to draw up a a written bilateral
agreement between the Philippines Government and the Hong
Kong Government in order to safeguard the interests of
Filipino maids working in Hong Kong?
Sir, no, we feel
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER : Sir,
no need for a written bilateral agreement because our view
is that this kind of protection is best provided in our
normal laws. However, we would be quite happy to record
in writing the information we have already given to
Philippines officials in discussions and I think this
should be sufficient for the Philippines' purposes because
their concern is that their employees should not be
exploited and I think that what we have already done
should be sufficient to satisfy them on this point.
MR. SOHMEN : Sir, does the Secretary's
the Secretary's reply mean that
there were no consultations or discussions prior to the
imposition of these restrictions by the Philippines
Government?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER : As far as I am
aware, sir, there were no prior consultations
point.
on this