Government suggests top court refer right of abode case to Beijing

 港府承認請求終院考慮 向人大提釋法

(Metro P.50  14 Dec 2012) The government confirmed yesterday that the Department of Justice (律政司) has suggested that the Court of Final Appeal (終審法院)should refer the right of abode (居留權) issue for foreign domestic helpers (外籍傭工) to Beijing.

The Justice Secretary(律政司司長), Rimsky Yuen, said the request to refer the matter to Beijing to clarify (澄清) the effect of a 1999 interpretation (釋法) made under the Basic Law ‘would absolutely (絕對地) not affect the rule of law and judicial independence of Hong Kong’.

The Justice Secretary added that on the contrary such a move would hopefully help assist to resolve the right of abode issue of different groups, including foreign domestic helpers and babies born to mainland women.

He said the Court of Final Appeal would make the final decision on the matter.

Metro and agencies