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Phila Siu

Indonesia's top diplomat in Hong Kong, Chalief Akbar, feels at home walking along the streets of Causeway Bay.
Every Sunday thousands of domestic helpers, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, gather at Victoria Park and line the nearby streets of the district in the heart of the city.

They sit on colourful pieces of cloth where they share food, drinks and laughter.
Read more: We do not want a second Erwiana, says Indonesia's top diplomat in Hong Kong as complaints almost halve since abuse case
"In Hong Kong, we can easily find Indonesian food, especially our office here in Causeway Bay," says Akbar, Indonesia's consul general in Hong Kong.
Causeway Bay is almost like "Indonesian territory" to him.
Akbar, 51, took up the post about two years ago. The seasoned diplomat had been posted in Pakistan, East Timor, Singapore and Washington in the United States before landing the top job in Hong Kong.
With about 150,000 Indonesian domestic helpers in Hong Kong making up almost half of the total helper population, Akbar is well aware that he has a huge responsibility.
"As the consul general, they consider me a father," Akbar said after an event last month that marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which thousands attended in Victoria Park.

As soon as the event ended, in almost a celebrity meet-and-greet session, Indonesian after Indonesian approached Akbar to take photos with him.
"I always tell them, please consider the consulate your second home," Akbar said in between people asking to shake his hand and take photos with him.
On most days, Akbar arrives at his office at 8am and works for 12 hours. Sometimes he starts earlier, occasionally getting to the airport at 5am to greet guests from Indonesia.
As for weekends: "I don't have weekends like anybody else because we are open on Sunday."
"I have been here for two years. I still have not had enough time or chance to explore Hong Kong fully, especially outside Hong Kong Island," he says.
When he's not working, he finds time for his family and his favourite sport - badminton.
"Just so-so. I just try to hit the [shuttlecock]," he says, when asked if he is a good player.
READ MORE: All the latest news on foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong
When it comes to what Indonesia can learn from Hong Kong, Akbar points to the city's infrastructure and public transport.
"The infrastructure and services in Hong Kong are very good here. In Indonesia, you know, we have 17,000 islands. In terms of infrastructure, the main job for us is on how to connect the dots."
The Indonesian government recently rolled out an infrastructure development road map. It is inviting foreign investment to build 15 airports, 24 ports, 35 power plants, 1,000km of toll roads, 3,258km of railways, eight special economic zones and 14 industrial estates by 2019.
The country's consular official in charge of economic matters in the city, Ratna Lestari, said earlier that she hoped Hong Kong would at least regain the No 4 slot it held in the 1980s in terms of foreign investment in the country.


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Hong Kong's diplomats

'They consider me a father': Indonesian envoy in Hong Kong on life in a 'home territory' with 150,000 domestic helpers

Indonesian consul general Chalief Akbar pictured at his office in Causeway Bay. Photo: Edmond So

Indonesian Consul General Chalief Akbar (centre, with spectacles) marks the end of Ramadan in Victoria Park.Photo: Dickson Lee

Indonesian maids cool down themselves as they celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indonesian National Day under hot weather at Victoria Park. Photo: Nora Tam

We do not want a second Erwiana, says Indonesia's top diplomat in Hong Kong, as complaints almost halve since abuse case

Indonesian domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih (centre) with supporters outside Wan Chai District Court as her former employer Law Wan-tung was convicted of a raft of assault charges. Photo: Sam Tsang

Chalief Akbar in his Causeway Bay office. Photo: Edmond So

Chalief Akbar in his Causeway Bay office.Photo: Edmond So

Domestic helpers in Hong Kong protest against plan to open and inspect cargo boxes

Hundreds of Filipino migrants march to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong calling for the complete abandonment of the Philippine government's imposition of tax through the Bureau of Customs on their balikbayan/door-to-door boxes. Photo: Nora Tam

Hundreds of Filipino migrants march to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong calling for the complete abandonment of the Philippine government's imposition of tax through the Bureau of Customs on their balikbayan/door-to-door boxes. Photo: Felix Wong

Filipino maids are none too happy about customs plans to inspect the boxes they send home to their families. Photo: Felix Wong

Starting at Chater Garden in Central, the Filipino migrant workers chanted “no fees” as they marched in procession to their home country’s consulate in Admiralty. Photo: Nora Tam

A woman holds a placard showing "Hands Off!" among the protesters in Chater Road. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong domestic helper who gave birth in employer's bathroom is arrested after premature baby dies

The Orchards in Quarry Bay, where the woman delivered her baby. Photo: Cable TV

Can Hong Kong please put a roof over our domestic helpers' heads on their days off?

Indonesians relax with some fancy footwork in Victoria Park. Photo: Thomas Lee

Domestic helpers socialise in Victoria Park on their day off. 

Filipino maids gather at Chater Garden, Central. Photo: Nora Tam

Domestic helpers find space to enjoy their Sunday on a footbridge in Causeway Bay. Photo: SCMP

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leung (centre) takes part in an Ice Bucket Challenge at Tamar. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Education

Indonesian diplomat Chalief Akbar is never happier than when he's at 'home' in Causeway Bay, with its huge numbers of domestic helpers


'They consider me a father': Indonesian envoy in Hong Kong on life in a 'home territory' with 150,000 domestic helpers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Indonesian diplomat Chalief Akbar is never happier than when he's at 'home' in Causeway Bay, with its huge numbers of domestic helpers

Indonesian diplomat Chalief Akbar is never happier than when he's at 'home' in Causeway Bay, with its huge numbers of domestic helpers