WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987
16
OVERSTAYING FILIPINO DOMESTIC HELPERS PROSECUTED
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY} THAT FROM JANUARY 1985 TO SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, 281 FILIPINO DOMESTIC HELPERS HAD BEEN PROSECUTED FOR OVERSTAYING IN HONG KONG, ADDING THAT THEY WERE ALL CONVICTED OF THE OFFENCE.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT, AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ISSUED GUIDANCE NOTES TO FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY WERE PERMITTED ΤΟ TAKE UP DOMESTIC WORK IN HONG KONG.
THESE CONDITIONS INCLUDED THOSE RELATING TO THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY WERE PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG.
"IN THE NOTE IT IS CLEARLY STATED THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE IN FOR THEM TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG LONGER THAN THE PERIOD STIPULATED.
LAW
"IN RESPECT OF CONTRACTS THAT ARE TERMINATED BEFORE THEY ARE COMPLETED, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE ARE REQUIRED ΤΟ INFORM THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY OF THE TERMINATION, 17 MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
AS REGARDS THE DETECTION OF OVERSTAYING, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED ANY SUSPICIONS THAT A HELPER HAD OVERSTAYED AND VISITED PLACES WHERE IT THOUGHT OVERSTAYING FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS MIGHT BE WORKING.
STEPS TO ENSURE HOME SAFETY OUTLINED
*
THE GOVERNMENT WILL STEP UP FAMILY LIFE
EDUCATION
TO EDUCATE PARENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF LEAVING CHILDREN AT HOME, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
PROGRAMMES UNATTENDED
CHAMBERS,
CHAMBERS
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR SAID THAT IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE RECENT TRAGEDY AT SAU MAU PING, THE WORKING GROUP ON THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE HAD RECENTLY RECONSIDERED THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINED THAT LEGISLATION IN THIS AREA WOULD BE NEITHER PRACTICAL NOR ENFORCIBLE, HE SAID.
IN CONNECTION