Migrant workers not interested in HK permanent residency, say unions

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s ongoing landmark right of abode case has split the local community.

The High Court deemed the city’s immigration law, which barred some 290,000 foreign domestic helpers from applying for permanent residency, unconstitutional.

The ruling lifts a major legal barrier for domestic helpers to apply for residency after living continuously in the territory for seven years.

But those against granting that right, have become increasingly vocal. Some opponents, including a pro-government political party, are warning it could open the floodgates to an influx of up to half a million people, including the dependants of helpers.

Some fear it would lead to a huge strain on the city’s resources for housing, education and social welfare.

The government estimates around 120,000 domestic helpers have reached the minimum seven-year requirement. But migrant workers dismiss the scenario of hundreds of thousands of people flooding into Hong Kong because of the right of abode.

Unions said the doomsday scenario is grossly exaggerated and that the public has been misinformed.

Dolores Balladares, spokesperson for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said: “Most of our members [do not want] to be a permanent resident. But rather work here, earn a living to support their family and afterwards, go back to the Philippines or Indonesia.”

Luz Alba, who was a civil servant in the Philippines, has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for 27 years. Two of her daughters are also working in Hong Kong, but she said none of them intend to apply for permanent residency.

She said: “No, I will never (apply). Because there is no comfortable, nice place to stay except in my country… Hong Kong is an expensive place, so we cannot just say that we want to stay here, especially if [the migrant workers] have kids. How can their kids go to school? The rent, the place where they stay, they have to pay for that.”

Unions are also arguing that not all applications will be approved, as the applicant still needs to pass additional hurdles under Hong Kong’s immigration laws. -CNA/ac