Abuse cases won't deter Myanmar maids, says lawmaker Felix Chung

Myanmar will go ahead with plans to send domestic helpers to Hong Kong, says a Liberal Party lawmaker and an investor in the country, despite the latest allegations of abuse raising concerns for maids' safety.

Felix Chung Kwok-pan met Myanmar's labour minister, U Aye Myint, on Monday - after the former employer of Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih was charged with abusing the 23-year-old, who remains in hospital in her home country, and two other maids.

"The minister brought up the case [of Erwiana] in the meeting and asked if there was any legislation in Hong Kong that protects the foreign maids," said Chung.

"But Myanmar still finds the plan attractive … I don't think the widely reported case of Erwiana will be a big problem."

Chung, who is involved in building a garment-manufacturing facility in Myanmar, said he had promised to submit a firm proposal to Myanmar on sending maids to the city, which would also spell out the laws protecting maids. He hoped both sides would meet again in March.

Hong Kong's Golden Mind Employment Agency has already become the first agency in the world to win Myanmar's permission to recruit domestic workers, with the first 55 maids due to arrive by the end of next month.