TNAG-1751-FCO40-2471-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 73

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FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS

REVISED CONDITIONS OF STAY

Revised conditions of stay for domestic helpers in Hong Kong, announced by the Hong Kong Government on 16 April last year.

They state that if foreign domestic helper's contract is terminated, he or she will be allowed to stay in Hong Kong for the remainder of his or her six monthly period of stay, or for two weeks after the termination of the contract, whichever is the shorter.

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In special circumstances, a foreign domestic helper will be allowed to stay in Hong Kong for longer than two weeks after termination of his or her contract, or will be allowed to change his or her employer.

In revising these conditions of employment, Hong Kong Government has sought to be fair to employers and to Foreign Domestic Helpers, as well as to local people prepared to work as part-time domestic helpers.

LAWFULNESS OF REVISED CONDITIONS

Conditions of stay determined by Hong Kong Director of Immigration under regulations made under Hong Kong Immigration Ordinance.

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DOMESTIC HELPERS

Any review of their lawfulness would therefore be a matter for the Hong Kong courts.

Conditions of stay recently challenged in Hong Kong High Court and Court of Appeal. Both courts upheld Hong Kong Government's right to impose revised conditions.

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