Hong Kong (Hansard, 13 November 1987)

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the treatment of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
We have received three letters from right hon. and hon. Members and several letters from members of the public about this subject.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Hong Kong Government to alleviate the plight of foreign domestic helpers who find on arrival in the colony that their employers are willing to pay them wages less than the contractually agreed account, and consequently leave their employment to work elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
No.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to any recent change of policy by the Hong Kong Government concerning the treatment of foreign domestic helpers whose employment has been terminated; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
The revised conditions of stay for domestic helpers in Hong Kong, announced by the Hong Kong Government on 16 April, state that if a foreign domestic helper's contract is terminated, he or she will be allowed370W 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. In special circumstances, a foreign domestic helper will be allowed to stay in Hong Kong for longer than two weeks after the termination of his or her contract, or will he allowed to change his or her employer.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the lawfulness of the new condition of stay imposed upon all new foreign domestic helpers arriving in Hong Kong since 21 April ; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
The conditions of stay are determined by the Hong Kong director of immigration under regulations made under the Hong Kong immigration ordinance. Any review of their lawfulness would therefore be a matter for the Hong Kong courts. The conditions of stay have recently been challenged in the Hong Kong High Court and Court of Appeal. Both courts upheld the Hong Kong Government's right to impose the revised conditions.