SLW meets Acting Consul-General of Indonesia in Hong Kong (with photos)

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (August 10) met the Acting Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong, Mr Slamet Noegroho, to reiterate the stance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on the issue of placement fees for the employment of Indonesian domestic helpers (IDHs).

     Mr Sun made it clear to the Acting Consul-General that, in order to maintain the long-standing cordial, mutually beneficial and close co-operative relationship between Hong Kong and Indonesia, no change should be made by the Indonesian side to the arrangement of IDHs' placement in Hong Kong that would increase the burden of Hong Kong employers or undermine the employment opportunities of IDHs in Hong Kong. Furthermore, there should be equal treatment for any change, and Hong Kong should not be singled out.

     Mr Sun said, "The Acting Consul-General clarified at the meeting that there is no change to the cost structure of fees for arranging IDHs to work in Hong Kong. As to the information communicated by the Indonesian Manpower Placement Agency Association (ASPATAKI) with employment agencies in Hong Kong last week, the Acting Consul-General also stated that the ASPATAKI does not represent the Indonesian Government. The Acting Consul-General said that both governments' policies and regulations remain the same, and issues relevant to employment of IDHs in Hong Kong should continuously be discussed between the Indonesian Government and the HKSAR Government as before."

     The HKSAR Government will continue to communicate and collaborate with the Consulate-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong in protecting the interests of IDHs in Hong Kong as well as their employers, in order to maintain Hong Kong as an attractive place for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to come to work. The HKSAR Government will also actively discuss with other places, including Bangladesh and Cambodia, to widen the sources of FDHs for Hong Kong.