TNAG-1665-FCO40-2314-Hong-Kong-employment-issues-and-ordinances-foreign-domestic-1987 — Page 213

(For information

(10.3.87)

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTE FOR EEXECUTIVE COUNCIL

FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS IN HONG KONG

210/1

6

XCCI (87)8 22 Copy No.

LAW Buster

Introduction

On 24 February

1987, after considering memorandum

XCC (87) 28 (copy at Annex), the Council advised and the Acting Governor ordered:

(a)

that the number of FDHS in Hong Kong should not be reduced by means of the proposals in paragraph 14 of XCC(86)191 at Annex to the memorandum nor for the time being should the number be limited by the means described in paragraph 3 and 4 of the memorandum;

(b) that the minimum wage for newly arrived FDHS should be no less than $2,300 per month subject to regular review;

(c)

(d)

that at the meeting of the Council on 10 March, there should be an assessment by the Secretary of Economic Services of the effects of the measure at (b) on the Hong Kong labour market and that in addition an analysis of wages now being paid to FDHs under current contracts should be supplied; and

that the effect of the above measures and of those decided by the Governor in Council following consideration of memorandum XCC (87)29 should be the subject of regular review.

2

and the

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform members of the Secretary for Economic Services' assessment analysis of wages asked for in paragraph 1(c) above.

Effect of the new prescribed lowest possible wage on the Hong Kong Labour Market

the view

3

The Secretary of Economic Services is of the that the proposed 12-21% increases in the lowest possible wage payable to FDHS are unlikely to have a significant impact on the Hong Kong labour market as a whole. Because of the

CONFIDENTIAL