XN000022-1980-07-01 — Page 3

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1980

2

WAGES OF OVERSEAS DOMESTIC HELPERS

******

DUE TO A GENERAL INCREASE IN THE WAGES OF LOCAL DOMESTIC HELPERS AND AS THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IS NOT ABLE TO APPROVE THE ENTRY OF DOMESTIC HELPERS FROM OVERSEAS UNLESS THEY ARE PAID THE CURRENT MARKET RATE, EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS WILL, WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 1, 1980, ONLY BE ATTESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR IF THE MONTHLY WAGES TO BE PAID ARE NOT BELOW THE RANGE OF $1 050 TO $1 200.

IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE CONTRACTUAL MALPRACTICES, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAS REVIEWED THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT BY OVERSEAS DOMESTIC HELPERS ARE APPROVED.

WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME DATE, THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WILL NOT APPROVE A CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE TWO YEAR CONTRACT PERIOD.

IF A CONTRACT IS TERMINATED DURING THIS PERIOD THE HELPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO HIS OR HER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND TO APPLY FOR THE APPROPRIATE VISA AT THE BRITISH VISA OFFICE THERE IF HE OR SHE WISHES TO RETURN TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER EMPLOYMENT.

DOMESTIC HELPERS WILL SHORTLY BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO X-RAY EXAMINATIONS IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN BEFORE EMPLOYMENT VISAS ARE ISSUED.

SNT OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO CHEUNG CHAU HOME

FOR THE AGED

****

ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI KAM, TODAY OFFERED ALL POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE IN EXPANDING THE CHUNG SHAK HEI HOME FOR THE AGED ON CHEUNG CHAU,

MR CHUI WAS SPEAKING AT THE 11TH TERM INAUGURATION CEREMONY

OF NEW OFFICE BEARERS OF THE HOME.

HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE HOME WAS DRAWING UP PLANS FOR FURTHER EXPANSION AND HOPED HE WOULD SOON HAVE FIRM PROPOSALS.

MR CHUI RECALLED THAT WHEN THE HOME WAS FIRST FOUNDED IT PROVIDED MAINLY FOOD AND LODGING TO POOR AND HOMELESS OLD PEOPLE.

+TODAY, THE SUCCESS OF THE HOME EXTENDS BEYOND MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE 130 OLD PEOPLE LIVING THERE, HE SAID.

+THE HOME HAS IN THE PAST SUCCESSFULLY INVOLVED ITS MEMBERS IN VARIOUS TYPES OF RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO MAKE THEM FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT AT ALL ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.+

HE SAID