In April of this year, the Social Association conducted a survey of single-parent families separated from China and Hong Kong under the epidemic. At that time, the study revealed that their economy was generally at a level of extreme poverty. More than half of the mothers of the interviewed families had waited for ten years or more and still failed to reunite with their children. Nearly 90% of the interviewees have symptoms of depression.
Today (24th) more than a dozen mothers and children of the same list went to the Complaints Department of the Legislative Council to meet with members of the Legislative Council to express their wish to stay in Hong Kong to take care of their children.
Some Members have indicated that they will try to obtain work permits for them to help them self-reliance.
At 3 o'clock this afternoon, more than a dozen mothers of the same list and representatives of the Social Association met and petitioned members of the Legislative Council. The five members of the Legislative Council included Ye Liu Shuyi and Jiang Liyun.
Rong Haien, Chen Keqin and Yao Sirong attended the meeting, which mainly focused on discussing the current situation and needs of separating single-parent families in China and Hong Kong.
More than a dozen mothers and their children went to the Appeals Department of the Legislative Council to meet with members of the Legislative Council, and the members of the Legislative Council received the petition letter.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
The problem of separating single-parent families between China and Hong Kong has existed for a long time. The Hong Kong Community Association started to fight for the reunion of separated families from China and Hong Kong in 2009, and has reached more than 200 families so far.
Most single-parent families separated from China and Hong Kong are caused by the death or abandonment of the father of their children born in Hong Kong. Mothers without right of abode can only rely on two-way permits or three-month visit cards to take care of their children in Hong Kong.
However, currently holders of relevant visas cannot work in Hong Kong. In addition, under the epidemic situation, mothers holding two-way permits have difficulty travelling to and from the Mainland to work and can only rely on savings to survive. This has greatly increased their financial pressure.
Ms. Cheng, the mother of a separated single-parent family, revealed that she currently has a debt of more than 100,000 yuan. She hopes that the government can relax the policy so that she can work in Hong Kong, pay off her debts, and give her daughter a better growth environment.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Single mothers with two-way permits cannot work in Hong Kong and save up
The mother of a separated single-parent family, Ms. Cheng, divorced her husband when her daughter was 4 years old. She said that she would take care of her 9-year-old daughter by herself after the divorce.
Before the epidemic, she had to go back to Shantou, Guangdong to renew her visa every three months. Although she could renew her visa in Hong Kong during the epidemic, other problems also arise.
Ms. Zheng mentioned that the current family expenditure is nearly 10,000 yuan per month on average. Except for the alimony of the ex-husband, 5,000 yuan, everything else is paid by her savings.
But because she is unable to work in Hong Kong, her savings have long been dissipated, and now she can only rely on the financial assistance of her family to survive.
She revealed that she has a debt of more than 100,000 yuan and hopes that the government can relax the policy so that she can work in Hong Kong and pay off her debts, as well as give her daughter a better growth environment. "I don’t recommend doing hard work, but I I hope I can have a chance to work legally, and my children will live a good life!"
Ms. Qi, a mother of a single parent family, expressed that she hopes to stay in Hong Kong to take care of her son.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Younger son abandoned by his father but has no right of abode to take care of his son
The mother of the other single family, Ms. Qi, is from Hunan. She has a 10-year-old son.
She described that her son originally lived with his father in Hong Kong, but found out in 2017 that his father sent him to the children's home.
Since Ms. Qi is working in Hunan, it took a while to learn that her son had been abandoned by her father, so she immediately went to Hong Kong to pick up her son.
Since Miss Qi did not marry the child's father, she has no right of abode and can only come to Hong Kong to take care of her son by applying for a two-way permit.
Ms. Qi described that it is difficult to return to the Mainland with a Hong Kong ID card to establish a household registration. For example, the applicant family must have a certain amount of property. I want to stay and live in Hong Kong. If you want to study in the Mainland, you must go to a private school. Our financial burden is simply too high."
Shi Lishan, deputy director of the Social Association, said that many single mothers are eager to be self-reliant, and they are more inclined to obtain work permits than living in Hong Kong.
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Shi Lishan, deputy director of the Social Association, described that the meeting process was smooth, and the members were also particularly concerned about the growth and health of the children. She also pointed out that after obtaining relevant data, she would study how to assist these families, such as obtaining work permits for them in Hong Kong to solve financial problems. Dilemma.
Shi Lishan mentioned that many single mothers are eager to be self-reliant, and they are more inclined to obtain work permits than living in Hong Kong.
Because it allows them to stay in Hong Kong to work and take care of their children, she pointed out that many single mothers have basic academic qualifications and have tried to apply to become foreign workers. However, due to the shortage of foreign workers, many people failed to apply.
Moreover, their academic qualifications in the Mainland are generally not recognized in Hong Kong.
If you want to bring your children back to live in the Mainland, you will also encounter many problems. For example, it is difficult for your children to apply for household registration, and they can only go to private schools in terms of schooling. This will also bring them a huge financial burden and put them in a dilemma.
Shi Laishan hopes that through this meeting, the government can better understand the situation of single-parent families separating China and Hong Kong and find solutions for them.
The study reveals that the single-parent family reunion between China and Hong Kong has no expiry date. More than 90% of the respondents have depression. The takeaway employee injury protection survey shows that 80% of the respondents agree that the food delivery platform should be regulated. Under the epidemic, the elderly feel lonely and suicidal. Financial assistance to overcome difficulties
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