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In anticipation of increased cases of collection of entry visas for the entry of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), the Immigration Department will flexibly adjust the working hours of the Foreign Domestic Helpers Section (FDHS) at Immigration Tower in Wanchai tomorrow (August 1) and on the following few days.
A spokesman for the department said, ：The opening hours of FDHS will be temporarily advanced from 0845 hrs to 0745 hrs during the rush period, except Sunday when the office will not be opened. The Department will deploy additional manpower and resources to handle the increased workload.；
：To ensure the smooth and orderly processing of applications and issuance of visas, a quota system will be introduced at the FDHS from 1 August 2008 on a first come first serve basis until further notice.
The arrangements are as follows:-
(a) Collection of visa labels
A total of 1 200 quotas will be allotted during weekdays. Each employer or representing agent will be given at most 10 quotas at one time. If the daily quota is all allotted, they will have to come again on the following working day or another day to queue up for the quota. To meet the demand, the service for collection of visa label will be provided on 2 August 2008 (Saturday) and the quota is also 1 200.
(b) Application for contract renewal, change of employer and extension of stay
A total of 600 quotas will be allotted during weekdays and 350 on 2 August 2008 (Saturday). Taking into consideration the applicants・ limit of stay, they will be given appointments to attend on another day if all the quota is allotted.
At the same time, the five Immigration branch offices will also increase the daily walk-in quota for applications for contract renewal from FDHS from 54 to 90 on weekdays and from 33 to 55 on Saturdays.
The spokesman said the rush was caused by a number of employers who have not collected the entry visas in the past two weeks or those who have deferred submission of the contract renewal applications pending announcement of the details of the suspension for two years of the Employees Training Levy. Some 8,000 such cases are anticipated.
However, the spokesman advised those employers who would like to apply for advanced renewal of existing contracts that they do not have to hand in their applications immediately as they would not be getting a refund on levy already paid. The employers will be able to enjoy the suspension of levy for 24 months when they sign new contracts or renew existing contracts in advance between 1 August 2008 and 31 July 2010.
Enquiries on the levy suspension can be made with the Immigration Department at 2824 6111 (phone) or 2877 7711 (fax). More information on employment of foreign domestic helpers and imported workers is available at Immigration Department・s homepage at (www.immd.gov.hk) and Labour Department・s homepage at (www.labour.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, July 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:16
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