XN000022-1990-11-28 — Page 14

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THE DURATION OF THESE CONTRACTS WAS NORMALLY TWO YEARS.

ON ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG, MR YEUNG SAID THE DOMESTIC HELPER'S PASSPORT WAS ENDORSED WITH A CONDITION WHICH ALLOWED HER TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG FOR 12 MONTHS OR FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE TERMINATION OF HER CONTRACT, WHICHEVER WAS THE EARLIER.

AT THE END OF THE FIRST 12 MONTHS, SO LONG AS THE DOMESTIC HELPER CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE SAME EMPLOYER, HER STAY WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS, HE ADDED.

MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT AT THE END OF THE TWO YEARS, THE DOMESTIC HELPER MIGHT CHOOSE TO ENTER INTO A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE SAME EMPLOYER OR WITH ANOTHER EMPLOYER, OR RETURN TO HER COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

"PROBLEMS MAY ARISE IF THE CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT IS TERMINATED PREMATURELY.

"IF THE CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED BY THE DOMESTIC HELPER HERSELF, THE TWO-WEEK RULE WOULD APPLY UNLESS THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IS SATISFIED THAT SHE HAS A GOOD REASON FOR STAYING LONGER.

"IN THAT EVENT, THE DIRECTOR

WOULD

NORMALLY GRANT HER AN

EXTENSION OF STAY," HE SAID.

SIMILARLY, MR YEUNG SAID IF THE CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED BY THE EMPLOYER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DOMESTIC HELPER MIGHT ALSO BE GRANTED AN EXTENSION OF STAY.

0

CONTROLS ON SPECULATIVE PROPERTY ACTIVITIES UNDESIRABLE

AND

CONTROLS ON SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES IN PROPERTY IS UNNECESSARY AND MAY NOT BE DESIRABLE, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR BARNES SAID SUCH CONTROLS WERE DISRUPTIVE TO DEVELOPMENT FINANCING AND HENCE PROPERTY SUPPLIES AND WOULD PROBABLY DO MORE THAN GOOD TO THE ECONOMY.

HARM

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG, MR BARNES SAID: "THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSIDERED CONTROLS ON SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES IN PROPERTY BEFORE, AT PERIODS WHICH APPEARED ΤΟ WARRANT SUCH CONTROLS MUCH MORE THAN NOW.

HE SAID COMPLAINTS TO THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AGAINST PROPERTY NCIES FOR 88/89, 89/90 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1990 UP TO ›W NUMBERED 99, 77 AND 76 RESPECTIVELY.

/THE INDEPENDENT