I REFER to your reader's letter headlined, 'Document rule confusing' (South China Morning Post, October 6). Our Extension Section that handles extension of stay applications from foreign domestic helpers has been facing a substantial increase in workload since 1989. Due to the overall stringent government resources allocation, the section has not been provided with a corresponding increase in staff to cope with the workload. We have strived hard to maintain an acceptable standard of service through various measures, one of which being streamlining of working procedures. The new working procedure mentioned in your reader's letter is one of our initiatives introduced in July of this year to help reduce the waiting time and to ease overcrowding in our office. Under this arrangement, applicants are required to deposit their passports and employment contracts so that their applications can be processed in the backroom after they have left. They are given an appointment to come back to collect their passports and to pay the extension fee. This arrangement has significantly reduced the applicants' waiting time in our office and is widely welcomed. If they need to get their passports or employment contracts back for emergency purposes, they can do so at any time during office hours. To further streamline our procedures, we are considering accepting payment of the extension of stay fee (HK$115) by cheque at the time of application shortly. This will further help reduce the waiting time at the time of passport collection. ANNA S. C. CHAN for Director of Immigration
