210/1
30
GRS 400
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FM MANILA
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 7
OF 280235Z APRIL 87
#NFO ROUTHINE F C O
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TOP COPY Q DIST ?
TELECON HUCKLE/PEÏRCE: FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS: VISIT OF MAX
SOLINVEN.
1.
MAX SOLHVEM, PUBLISHER AND COLUMNIST N THE PHILIPPINE DAILY STAR NEWSPAPER! HS TRAVELLING TO HONG KONG ON FLIGHT
PR 300 ARRIVING 1100 HOURS ON 28 APRIL FOR A BRIEF WORKING VISIT. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE TO BRIEF SOLVEN FULLY ON THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS (FDHS). 2. PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPERS OVER THE WEEKEND (25-26 APRIL) CARRIED FAIRLY BALANCED REPORTS OF THE CRITICISMS IN HONG KONG OF THE NEW RULES AND THE ASSURANCE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION (ALAN CARTER) THAT SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO VICTIMS
OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AND OTHER EXCEPTIONAL CHRCUMSTANCES. THE ONLY
SOUR NOTE WAS SOUNDED BY MAX SOLIVEN'S COLUMN IN THE SUNDAY EDITION OF THE STAR.
3.
SOLIVEN ATTACKED THE NEW RULES AS DISCRIMINATORY AND UNJUST''.
HE REPEATED THE COMPLAINT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF UNIFIL - HK, MS
MELDA LANGUNDAM THAT THE NEW RULE BARRING A CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT
WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF A CONTRACT REMOVED THE ONLY DEFENCE
THAT FDHS HAD AGAINST EXPLOITATHION BY HONG KONG EMPLOYERS, NAMELY
THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE A CONTRACT SEMH COLON WHEREAS EMPLOYERS WERE
GUARANTEED FDH REPLACEMENTS BY RECRUITMENT AGENCIES. THE COLUMN
(COPY BY BAG) WAS WRITTEN IN SOLIVEN'S TABLE STYLE WITH MANY
REFERENCES TO THE LAST BASTION OF BRITISH COLON BALISM**.
4. SOL:AVEN IS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND WIDELY READ
JOURNALISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND IS KNOWN FOR HIS DIOSYNCRATHIC
CRUSADES ON PARTICULAR ISSUES. HE HAS, FOR EXAMPLE, RECENTLY
DIRECTED A TORRENT OF ABUSE AGAINST JAPAN FOLLOWING WAKAOJI'S RELEASE
AND HE HAS SEPARATELY HIGHLIGHTED THE PLIGHT OF FILIPINO EXPATRIATES
IN JAPAN, SINGAPORE AND SAUDI ARABIA. WE HAVE ALREADY URGED SOLVEN TO CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG DURING HIS VISIT
AND OUR ADVICE IS THAT HE SHOULD BE GIVEN AND FULL
AND SYMPATHETIC BRIEFING. YOU SHOULD BE WARNED THAT SOLIVEN HAS A
MASSIVE EGO AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE HANDLED WITH CARE. HE CAN BE
CONTACTED EITHER AT THE SHERATON OR THE NEW WORLD HOTELS.
MAC-HNNES
MGSMAN 5341
MINIMAL HKO SEAD
RESTRICTED
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