Call for action on Hong Kong moneylenders forcing Indonesian and Filipino domestic helpers to hand over passports

Diplomats ‘deeply concerned’ about illegal demand, associated with unscrupulous lenders charging massive interest rates

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The Indonesian consulate said withholding a passport was against the country’s immigration Law. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:01am, 7 Jul 2018Updated: 2:03pm, 7 Jul 2018

Diplomats from Indonesia and the Philippines on Friday urged Hong Kong authorities to take firm action against people who hold domestic helpers’ passports.

They said they were “deeply concerned” about the illegal practice, reports of which are increasingly common.

The calls followed the arrest of a man suspected of running a HK$3 million (US$382,000) moneylending racket. The man was thought to have forced 878 Indonesian and Filipino helpers to surrender their passports in exchange for loans. The workers were charged 125 per cent interest, more than double the local legal limit.

By Friday evening, the man had been released on bail and was expected to report back to police next month.

In an official statement, Jakarta’s consul general expressed “deep concern” over Indonesian passports being held by “unauthorised parties” and called on local authorities to take “firm measures”.

“I urge all Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong and Macau not to let other parties withhold their passports, as it is against Indonesian immigration law. If any third party is withholding your passport unlawfully, please report directly to the consulate,” Tri Tharyat said.