CONFIDENTIAL
3. AS REGARDS FEES CHARGED BY HK EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (PARA. 4 OF TUR), THE LABOUR DEPT. IS AWARE THAT SOME AGENCIES ARE CHARGING MORE THAN THE FEES PERMITTED UNDER HK LAW (WHICH AMOUNTS TO HK DOLLARS 3
FOR REGISTRATION AND TEN PERCENT OF THE FIRST MONTH'S SALARY UPON SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF A DEAL). THE LABOUR DEPT. WILL PROSECUTE OFFENDERS BUT HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY THE RELUCTANCE OF FDHS TO COME FORWARD TO GIVE EVIDENCE. WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO REYES REFUSING TO AUTHENTICATE CONTRACTS FROM SUCH AGENCIES. IN FACT, THE PHILIPPINES CONSULATE HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD NOT
AUTHENTICATE CONTRACTS FROM TWO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES. (REYES
DID NOT RAISE THIS QUESTION ON 14 APRIL).
。 ON ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES WE INTEND TO DO SO IN THE AFTERNOON OF 16 APRIL, AFTER THE OMELCO SECURITY PANEL HAS BEEN BRIEFED IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED BY EXCO TO ''CONSULT'' THE OMELCO SECURITY PANEL. THUS IF THE PANEL REACTS STRONGLY WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO EXCO AND NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
WILL THEREFORE BE MADE.
5. IF THE PROPOSALS ARE AGREED, THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY BUT THE NEW WAGE WILL BE INTRODUCED AS FROM 21 APRIL ONWARDS, AFTER
THE EASTER BREAK.
6.
COPIES OF THE REVISED PAMPHLETS WILL BE DESPATCHED TO MANILA
BY FIRST BAG.
7. WE HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED TO REYES THAT HIS MISSION MIGHT CONSIDER ORGANISING SOME FORM OF LARGE-SCALE ENTERTAINMENTS ON SUNDAYS, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MAIDS CONGREGATING IN STATUE SQUARE ON THAT DAY. HE WAS RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA, BUT BEMOANED THE COST OF HIRING A LARGE ENOUGH VENUE. WE SHALL PURSUE THIS WITH HIM. POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD OFFER SOME HELP IN PROVIDING A VENUE.
WILSON
IT IS
YYYY
HMLNAN 1597
MINIMAL
HID SEAD
CONTIDENTIAL
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