HK's top court rejects Filipino maid residency appeal

Hong Kong's top court the Count of Final Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Filipino helpers seeking permanent residency in the city, it said Monday.

It has also denied the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's request for referring the right of abode issue to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for clarification, saying the necessary conditions had not been met.

The city's High Court in September, 2011 ruled that the immigration provision which denies the right of permanent residency for a Filipino woman, who has worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 1986, is inconsistent with the Basic Law.

According to the Basic Law in Hong Kong, foreign residents can apply to settle permanent in Hong Kong after seven years, while the city's nearly 300,000 foreign maids are excluded.

The judges ruled that the nature of residence for foreign domestic helpers was highly restrictive, since they are obliged to return to their country of origin at the end of their contracts, and are told from the outset that admission to Hong Kong is not for the purpose of settlement.