Hong Kong's newly passed anti- racism law will come under international scrutiny sooner than expected: in October at a United Nations forum in Manila.
The law, which exempts immigration laws, will be highlighted by the newly formed International Migrants Alliance led by Hong Kong-based Indonesian helper Eni Lestari.
The alliance would voice their opposition to the anti-discrimination law at the second meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, set for late October in Manila, Ms Lestari said.
The forum, which was first held in Belgium in July last year, is a consultative process open to all United Nations member-states and observers.
Ms Lestari, who is chairman of Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers), was elected leader of the alliance, which represents 85 migrant organisations, during its formation meeting last month in Hong Kong.
Nothing in Hong Kong's anti-discrimination bill would affect existing nationality, citizenship, resident status or immigration laws.
But Ms Lestari said: 'If you are talking about protecting migrant workers in Hong Kong, you have to include immigration [policies]. The anti-discrimination bill will deprive us our rights.'
