🌊 Free Tide: Abuse of domestic workers worsens over the pandemic
🌊 Free Tide: Abuse of domestic workers worsens over the pandemic
Upcoming comedy event supports Aberdeen fire victims
Good morning
There’s a heatwave currently passing through my area and it’s not fun. It’s like Hong Kong temperatures but no one has air-con. This is not what I meant when I said I wanted to go home for summer.
~ Kyna
Domestic workers speak on physical, sexual abuse from their employers during COVID-19
TW for sexual assault and violence.
Levels of exploitation faced by domestic workers have increased over quarantine. The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) identified several instances of helpers being subjected to sexual assault and physical abuse – this includes rape, beatings and sleep deprivation. Mission for Migrant Workers found that reports of domestic workers experiencing sexual assault and harassment tripled in 2020.
Putri, a domestic worker from Indonesia, was groped and raped by her male employer multiple times. She tearfully recounted that she only discovered she was pregnant after being taken to a doctor; her employers then demanded that she have an abortion. Putri’s attacker has since been charged with assault and rape.
“All other workers in Hong Kong do not have to live in fear. Instead, if their job is not safe they can give notice and find safer work conditions. [Migrant domestic workers] deserve the same right.”
— A statement from the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body
COVID news
Coronavirus in Hong Kong
New cases: 1 (imported)
Total cases: 11,922 cases so far (83 active cases, 211 total deaths, 11,628 total recovered)
In other news…
A man in a Chai Wan estate was arrested for sedition after protest stickers with the slogan “liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” were found on his security gate. The man has since been released on bail and his case is being investigated by the force’s national security unit.
Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in HK, asserts the city's independent judiciary should reflect national interests. Zheng has previously emphasised national security as a core necessity (paywalled) in continuing to develop the “one country, two systems” framework.
Event teasers
Calling all opera fans! Musica Viva’s 2021 production of Bellini’s Norma opens Friday night. The bel canto opera was last staged in HK about 30 years ago. Both productions were directed by Lo King Man, dubbed the “Father of Hong Kong Opera”.
Where: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
When:
2 - 3 July (Friday & Saturday) @ 7:30pm
4 July (Sunday) @ 2:30pm
HT is sending a representative – stay tuned for our review! Find more information and preview photos on Musica Viva’s Facebook page.
Join TakeOut Comedy for a night of laughter as they fundraise for victims of the fire that ravaged Aberdeen on 27 June, sinking or damaging over 40 boats. The charity comedy show is happening on 7 July at 8pm, and entry is HK$300 per person.
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