It's no wonder that Westerners have such a bad reputation in Hong Kong ('Wife not a hired helper', South China Morning Post, June 23). Does this 'European citizen' assume that, by virtue of being European, and having married a Hong Kong resident (likely another 'European citizen'), she should be given carte blanche to live and work in Hong Kong without even applying for a visa? Do European countries afford similar rights to non-citizens and their spouses? Once she gets her dependent visa, she will have full rights to secure a job in any field - try going to live in North America (a reputedly civilised society) where tight restrictions are placed on the rights of such spouses to seek employment. As regards her question of equality, as a Western male I also was 'subjected' to applying for a dependent visa when I arrived - I have since recovered from this deep trauma. The writer seems to have adapted very quickly to the Hong Kong idea that domestic helpers are of an inferior status - I think many readers will have a slightly different perspective on who here is of inferior status. Welcome to Hong Kong - it sounds like this spoiled expat will adjust well to life here. M BENTLEY New Territories
