Posted by
carmine
17 yrs ago
With the recent grusome murder by a filapina helper, does anyone have second thoughts of hiring a maid? Does this sorts of things happen a lot in HK?
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I have no second thoughts. If you consider the number of helpers in HK (250 000 if memory serves), the incidence of violence is very low. Heck, even incidents of serious theft are pretty rare.
Not saying anyone deserves to be murdered etc, but I do think your chances of having an issue decrease dramatically if you treat your helper with dignity and respect. A lot of people treat them like slaves.
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Ahhh - first up - has the helper actually been charged? Last I read, she had been taken to the police for questioning. Even if she has been charged then she has not been convicted so can we keep it to "alleged murder" rather than the definitive "murder by a ... helper".
And cinderella - I'd like to have your faith in humanity but we know by the press alone that a lot of helpers are mistreated (remembering back to the assault on a helper by an employer brandishing a hot iron as one example). Let alone all the helpers that do not report what is going on because they need the job and the money. Not to say that there are not a lot of helpers being well treated out there and also some helpers that are not doing a good job. Other than actual self defence, which would then not be murder, no-one deserves to be attacked like that.
SB2
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Ed
17 yrs ago
Cinderalla - I've removed you from this as your comments are inflamatory.
We have over 500 helpers come through our office and a fair number are abused both physically and mentally by employers - many are denied their days off and underpaid.
If you dont believe it feel free to call Sally or Evelyn 2815 2520 and they will relate some horror stories to you.
Not saying this is justification for murder but no doubt such behaviour can drive helpers over the bend
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Latest, I heard today. Employer was a local lady employed in high end Govern' position. Came home at 4:00 am, inhebriated, when to helper's room demanding her to wake up. Helper didn't. Employer came back to the room with a knife and threatened helper and fight began. Which is why helper also had wounds (in s elf-defence).
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must be super defence - else why the need to hack open the abdomen and scatter the intestines around?
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=15049&icid=3&d_str=20090612
there's always two sides of the story - sadly the other person won't be able to tell her side of the story.
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Ah, The Standard. That paragon of news reporting! So far this has not been reported in the SCuMP, RTHK or other news sources (discounting dodgy internet news sites which copy the Standard or vice-versa). I'll wait to hear the full story as it comes out, however the fact the Standard wrote this means at this point I don't believe a word of it!
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I agree that unfortunately some local employers bring this upon themselves by being far to demanding, when you are paying your maid $20k a month, by all means expect them to be at your beck and call but not for $3,500 or $1,700 which is frankly pathetic and goes to show that slavery still exists in HK. A world city does not take take advantage of it's more economically challenged neighbors in this way.
As for Asia's world city, I think this is much like when U.S officials keep telling Americans they live in the world's greatest country, if you tell people bullshit enough times the dumb ones may start to believe it.
I am sure you all know about the case of the looney that chopped and killed a 3 year old boy in a Sham Shui Po St last week, well his parents were living in a 100sqft home and now as a result of his death, as a form of compensation they are being awarded with a luxurious 200sqft home. WHoopee Whoo
Only in Asia's world city does a family of 3 or 4 get to live in the same space that a prison inmate would get for his own use in the western world.
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Every city whether its world class or third world has it problem of contradiction and what not...live with it or go back home, the grass is always greener on the other side.
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FKKC
17 yrs ago
carmine....so wisely said....live with it or go back home!
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"This is quite a pathetic attitude. I think everyone should try to improve the cities they live in (according to their own capabilities). Giving up is of course an easy option." You are absolutely right, people should try to do something about it if they are not happy with their city, but it is a difficult task. It is the people who whine but do nothing about it that I am upset about. I have lived in several cities both in North America, Europe and Asia which I was not too happy about, didnt whine, just finished my project, packed up and left. Perhaps I might visit one day, perhaps not...
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Just out of interest, Beancurd, why did the helper stay with the nasty employer for 8 years??!! After the first contract was up, she could have changed to a new family ...
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just guessing: maybe because she would only have two weeks to find a new employer or else would have to leave the country? this risk might have been too high to quit a job that looked just bearable to her (based on beancurd's account).
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Ken A
17 yrs ago
The worst part of it all, is that the helper was pretty much labelled a murdered by the media, and people in HK start to think "OMG OMG these helpers are not to be trusted." Then we get front page news for 1 or 2 days.
Of course since then almost no news... why?? Because a story like "Helper kills employer in self defence" is nowhere near as likely to sell newspapers as "Helper murders employer then mutilates body"
What makes it worse is that when something bad happens to a foreign domestic helper, you rarely have the news even come close to the front page if its even reported at all. When a helper does something bad to an employer its nearly always further near the front of the paper.
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