FULL TEXT: Regina Ip on HK Filipino domestic helpers

MANILA, Philippines – When Hong Kong lawmaker Regina Ip was quoted as saying that Filipino domestic helpers in her country wrecked marriages because they attracted their male employers, she drew the strongest reactions from Filipino netizens, especially those among the 140,000 Filipino workers there.

She originally posted the statement in question on her Facebook wall, written in Chinese. The statement was taken down soon after it was posted, but a screenshot was posted online and in print by several local and international news organizations, as well as run as a column in the newspaper Ming Pao Daily.

The lawmaker initially refused to apologize, saying her statement was “taken out of context.” On Friday, April 24, her office issued a declaration apologizing to the Filipino community that her statements “led many to believe that I was sexist and racist and was pointing a finger at the Filipino maids.” She said, “I strenuously deny such allegations.” (READ: OFW groups to HK politician: Apologize or we’ll sue) 

Below is the full text of the statement that Filipinos found offensive (with minor edits for style). It is a translation provided by The Sun-HK, a Filipino community newspaper in Hong Kong and a Rappler content partner. 

Erwiana’s case in 2014 shocked the world. Though violent acts committed by the employer involved agitated people, the employer has already received her punishment from the legal system. However, foreign media continued to picture Hong Kong as a place that rips foreign domestic workers off.

Conflicts between local employers and foreign domestic workers are common. Some employers might delay or withhold salary payment, or even inflict mental or physical abuse on helpers because of emotional problems or “the lack of space” at home. I acknowledge the existence of these cases.

These are cases that the court will seriously punish. However, the foreign media has never reported on the “abnormal relationships” between some expats and domestic workers in Hong Kong. Some of these “abnormal relationships” include “sexual exploitation.”

On the 7th of this month, a British-Filipino teen who’s just fifteen committed suicide and died after jumping off her home apartment in Repulse Bay. It was later discovered that she and her twin sister are undocumented children without Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, her Filipino mother has overstayed in Hong Kong for over 20 years. (READ: Cousins suicide: A HK tragedy that could have been averted) 

According to media reports, the mother used to be a domestic helper, and later gave birth to two daughters with her employer without registering for birth certificates. This is why the children do not have ID cards, cannot go to school and cannot leave Hong Kong borders.

Due to depression from the fact that she could not leave Hong Kong, the young girl locked herself in a room (with her parents outside) and jumped off the 19th floor of the building.

This incident reveals that the British father of the dead girl has been living with his girlfriend (the girl’s mother) for many years. It also suggests that he didn’t follow the law and didn’t register ID cards for her daughters in order to hide the fact that the mother is an overstayer, which later resulted in this tragedy.

I believe the girl’s father is suspected of inciting and “sheltering” an overstay, not registering his daughters’ birth and not sending his daughters of suitable age to schools.

Such behavior may have already broken several criminal laws. It also deprived the two girls of their rights to proper education and the freedom of entering and leaving Hong Kong’s borders.

In Hong Kong, there are quite a lot of cases where expat employers and Filipino domestic workers have an affair. When I was the Secretary for Security, I received complaints from expat women residing in Discovery Bay.

They complained that the Hong Kong government had tolerated Filipino helpers who seduced their husbands.

But at that time, the bureau could only respond to them by saying that it’s rather difficult for the authorities to govern such behaviour under the existing regulatory framework.

A few expat friends of mine who live in Discovery Bay told me that they have heard of broken marriages resulting from husbands with families in Hong Kong having suspiciously intimate relationships with their Filipino domestic workers.

Why would these Filipino domestic workers cohabit with their expat boyfriends or employers without getting proper recognition? A woman who crossed the ocean to work in an unfamiliar place far away from her family might have elders and children to feed and take care of back at home. If the boyfriend or employer is willing to take care of her, it’s understandable that she takes that offer.

Apart from reporting on inappropriate behavior of employers, should the foreign press not also keep a closer eye on why a great number of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong have become sexual resources for expat males? – Rappler.com