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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the importation of foreign domestic helpers after attending the presentation ceremony of the ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme organised by the Employees Retraining Board today (May 19):
Reporter: There has been news that the Indonesian Government will allow fewer numbers of domestic helpers working in Hong Kong from next year onwards because their welfare was not properly protected. So what is your reaction to this arrangement?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We have been in touch with the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong. We understand that this proposed restriction is not meant for Hong Kong. In fact, the importance we attached to protecting the interest of foreign domestic helpers here has been generally recognised back in Jakarta. So I think Hong Kong would probably be exempted, but we are still awaiting further confirmation from the Indonesian Government. But the present situation is, we don't think the restriction will apply to Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, May 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:37
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