TNAG-1665-FCO40-2314-Hong-Kong-employment-issues-and-ordinances-foreign-domestic-1987 — Page 123

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Rt. Hon. Bruce Millan MP.,

10 Beech Ave.,

Dumbreck

Glasgow.

26/4/87

Llwyn,

Llandre, Bow Street, Aberystwyth, Dyfed.

Dear Mr Millan,

disturbing situation which

I was informed of this

I am writing to bring to your attention a has arisen in the British Colony of Hong Kong. situation only yesteday by telephone and I am writing to ask raise the matter with the appropriate authorities.

you to

About 3,000 immigant domestic workers will be deported from Hong Kong effective from 5th May 1987. This situation is the result of the enactment of a law by the Hong Kong government on April 21st. This law, which applies retrospectively for a period of two weeks, means that any domestic employee whose contract

or is broken

otherwise ineffective, will be deported to his or her country of origin and be obliged to reapply for a work permit.

The same ruling applies irrespective of who broke the contract and whether the worker has found new employment. The reapplication process takes three to four months, during which time the workers' families who have remained at home will be subjected to financial hardship. For Some families this could mean starvation. Many workers will have insufficient resources to return to Hong Kong, many of them having incurred debts to pay for their fares

in the first instance.

severe

near

I have no idea why this inhumane law was passed nor do I know if the British Government is aware of the situation. If you could enlighten me on these points I would be very grateful.

I believe that those who have been unfairly dismissed should have recourse to an appeal procedure rather than being immediately deported, and if they gain new employment they should not be deported.

I hope that you can find out why the Hong Kong government is acting in this inhumane and unsympathetic fashion, and bring pressure to bear on the authorities to rectify the situation.

I look forward to your early reply.

Yours faithfully,

Bryan E. Collis

Bryan E. Collis Esq.

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