Letters | Domestic workers have held up Hong Kong’s economy through protests and a pandemic, so where are their consumption vouchers?

Readers discuss the exclusion of domestic workers from the consumption voucher scheme, Xi Jinping’s Hong Kong visit and the city’s future prospects, and what UK politicians had to say about the handover anniversary

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 5 Jul 2022

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Why did the Hong Kong government exclude domestic helpers as a beneficiary of the consumption voucher scheme? This is hugely discriminatory.

The government should not forget that domestic helpers have been an invisible force behind Hong Kong’s economic development over the years. Through the city’s many ups and downs – the Sars outbreak, the Covid-19 pandemic, and social unrest – we domestic workers have been there for you. We never stopped looking after your families. Yet we are mostly invisible, undervalued and in some cases mistreated and underfed. Many of us do not have a decent room or bed to sleep on at night, and we don’t get much privacy either.

According to a 2019 report, migrant domestic workers contributed an estimated US$12.6 billion to the city’s economy in 2018, representing 3.6 per cent of the gross domestic product. One of our largest contributions to the local economy was in terms of childcare; valued at HK$40 per hour at an average of 3.85 hours per day, this worked out to HK$184,970.52 per year.

There are about 340,000 migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.

Whether you admit it or not, we migrant workers help keep peace and order in your household so local men and women can work, study, and still enjoy life, knowing their children are in good hands while they keep winning in the business world and on the professional stage.

Dear Hong Kong government, why are you being so unfair to us?

J. Loverez, Sai Kung

Hong Kong still matters – Xi has made that clear

After much anticipation, Hong Kong celebrated the 25th anniversary of its return to China at the weekend. President Xi Jinping personally attended the ceremony, which was very encouraging for Hongkongers, especially given that it was his first trip outside the mainland since the outbreak of Covid-19. His presence delivered a strong and powerful message that our president takes Hong Kong into account.

Over the past five years, Hong Kong has undergone significant changes in politics, the economy and its people. Our city has become more stable after the implementation of national security law. We don’t see conflicts in the Legislative Council any more and I hope this will mean a more effective government.

In the past 25 years, the shortage of affordable housing in Hong Kong has been a persistent problem. All our former chief executives pledged to improve the situation at the start of their term but none succeeded. Housing prices remain the most unaffordable in the world, according to a survey by Demographia. This is outrageous.

The new chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu must bring his results-oriented approach to bear on this notorious situation. We are tired of hearing meaningless and empty slogans throughout the years.

Jack Chung, Sham Shui Po

Our city can rise above foreign criticism

As Hong Kong proudly celebrated 25 years since the handover, it was predictable that Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson would choose that moment to proffer negative comments.

Khan states “it’s been two years since China took the devastating decision to curtail the rights and political freedoms of Hongkongers”, while boasting that the Local Welcome Hong Kong Fund has granted £200,000 (US$242,000) to eight charities offering assistance to 35,000 Hongkongers who have settled in London – approximately £5.70 per person!

Johnson meanwhile promises Britain is “not giving up on Hong Kong” as he accuses Beijing of failing to keep its promises, conveniently ignoring the electoral manifesto promises he has broken.

Hong Kong has a new leadership under John Lee Ka-chiu and with him rests the hope for a resurgent Hong Kong united by its resilience, its strength and its people. The future bodes well for our home, free from the division created by the previous administration and free from the tired rhetoric of foreign politicians and their personal agendas.

Mark Peaker, The Peak