The government has vowed to follow all means of appeal against yesterday's landmark court ruling against an immigration law that prevents domestic helpers from seeking the right of abode.
High Court Judge Johnson Lam Man-hon, sitting in the Court of First Instance, declared as unconstitutional the exclusion of foreign domestic workers from a rule that allows foreigners to apply for the right to settle in the city after seven years of uninterrupted residency.
That provision, in the Immigration Ordinance, contravenes the Basic Law, Lam ruled.
'The government respects but is disappointed with the ruling,' said Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, adding that an appeal was imminent.
A lawyer for plaintiff Evangeline Banao Vallejos, a Philippine domestic helper who has lived in Hong Kong since 1986, said they had told her of the court's decision.
'We spoke to Ms Vallejos. She said, 'Thank God',' said Mark Daly, adding that Vallejos was out of the city yesterday. 'Today's victory is not just for migrant workers but also a victory for justice,' said Eman Villanueva, for the Asian Migrants' Co-ordinating Body, which supported Vallejos's challenge. He said he was confident 'not many' foreign domestic helpers would 'rush' to claim right of abode in light of the judgment.
