HK freezes abode requests pending court appeal
Source: Xinhua |
October 20, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AS Hong Kong's government seeks to reverse a landmark court judgment on the right of immigration lodged by a Filipino maid, it is putting a freeze on foreign domestic helpers' right-of-abode applications, the secretary for security said yesterday.
To do otherwise could cause serious disruption to many households, said the secretary, Ambrose Lee.
The city's court in September ruled that the provision denying the right of permanent residency for the maid, who worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 1986, violates Hong Kong's Basic Law.
Responding to a legislator, Lee said the government will seek to reverse the judgment on one hand while preparing for all possible challenges on the other, to minimize possible disruptions to families that employ foreign domestic helpers pending appeal.
He said that if applications were processed now, there could be serious problems, including "events which cannot be unraveled, and detriments which cannot be remedied, should the legal position be reversed upon appeal."
The government lodged the appeal on October 4. Lee said the application will be heard next Wednesday.
According to the Basic Law, non-Chinese people who have entered Hong Kong with valid travel documents, have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years and have taken Hong Kong as their place of permanent residence shall be permanent residents of Hong Kong.
To do otherwise could cause serious disruption to many households, said the secretary, Ambrose Lee.
The city's court in September ruled that the provision denying the right of permanent residency for the maid, who worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 1986, violates Hong Kong's Basic Law.
Responding to a legislator, Lee said the government will seek to reverse the judgment on one hand while preparing for all possible challenges on the other, to minimize possible disruptions to families that employ foreign domestic helpers pending appeal.
He said that if applications were processed now, there could be serious problems, including "events which cannot be unraveled, and detriments which cannot be remedied, should the legal position be reversed upon appeal."
The government lodged the appeal on October 4. Lee said the application will be heard next Wednesday.
According to the Basic Law, non-Chinese people who have entered Hong Kong with valid travel documents, have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years and have taken Hong Kong as their place of permanent residence shall be permanent residents of Hong Kong.
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