3. Do employers of foreign helpers who select their helpers on the basis of race violate the RDO?

3. Do employers of foreign helpers who select their helpers on the basis of race violate the RDO?

The RDO allows employers of foreign domestic helpers to select their helpers on the basis of race.

The other provisions in the RDO become applicable once the employment contract takes effect, which may be at the time when the helper enters Hong Kong (in the case where the helper has to wait for her/his employment visa outside Hong Kong), or when the approval to work is issued by the Immigration Department (in the case where the new helper is not required to leave Hong Kong pending the approval from the Director of Immigration).

The RDO applies even when the helper has to perform her/his duties outside of Hong Kong for a short period of time, such as when the employer takes the helper along for holiday.