Talk to HK govt on labor

The Hong Kong government has amended law to empower authorities to crack down on the immigrants who have been staying in Hong Kong as UN-registered refugees. With the enactment of the new immigration law that came into effect on Saturday, overseas migrants, including around 400 Nepalis, are facing serious trouble and are worried about the fate. As per the law, the Hong Kong officials can crack down even on those immigrants who have acquired refugee status from by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). If the refugees are found to have been working or running business in Hong Kong, they are liable to serve three years in jail and pay a penalty of HK dollar 5000. The Hong Kong government came up with this new amendment in the immigration law with stringent provision after a local court passed verdict allowing the UN recognized migrant refugees to work and run business in Hong Kong.



Though Hong Kong is not signatory of the UN Convention on Refugee, migrants are exploiting the signatory status of the country on UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) to take refuge in Hong Kong. The new move of the HK government is all set to invite trouble to over 6000 illegal migrants from South Asia and African nations including Nepalis who had made their ways to Hong Kong during Maoist insurgency and Madhesi movement in Tarai seeking refuge there citing mounting insecurity back home by warring groups. The number of Nepali asylum seekers reaching Hong Kong has increased by over ten fold in 2009 as compared to 2005 when Hong Kong shut the door for Nepali job aspirants, alleging illegal activities and political unrest in Nepal.



Needless to say, the new legislation would further jeopardize the prospect of existing Nepalis staying in Hong Kong. Worse, still, it would be tougher for Nepali officials who are lobbying for reopening the Hong Kong job market to Nepali migrant workers.



There should be strong diplomatic pressure by Nepali government on its HK counterpart to reopen Hong Kong, the popular destination for Nepali workers, especially women, by exploiting the long-standing diplomatic and labor relations with Hong Kong. Nepali officials have to ensure appropriate legal channel of entry for Nepali job seekers for the lucrative job market there so as to curb the rising practice of Nepalis entering Hong Kong through clandestine ways, making them vulnerable to job-loss and other problems. Nepali officials should also assure that the Nepalis wouldn’t get involved in criminal activities as alleged by Hong Kong besides convincing the Hong Kong officials about the improved governance system after the end of decade-long Maoist insurgency and enactment of new labor law in the country. To begin with, the 400 or so Nepalis must be taken care of immediately.

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