Meanwhile, the Philippino maids are complaining of being maltreated by their employers.
Mary, who declined to reveal her real name, is one of them. She works for a family which runs a dental clinic. Yet, she works in the clinic rather than staying at home during daytime.
Mary, 29, was a university student before leaving the Philippines in 1989. Said she: "I want to learn something in Hong Kong rather than merely looking after children.
"Though I am working as a cleaner in the clinic, I can still learn some knowledge about dentistry," added she.
In fact, the dentist family was Mary's second employer in Hong Kong. She worked as a domestic helper in Jordan before the contract was terminated in 1990. Since then, she has worked for the dentist family through a friend's referral.
She denied knowing that working in the clinic was illegal.
"Many of my friends work for their employers in offices and shops. I myself have signed a contract with my employer."
The contract Mary was referring requires her to work in the clinic also.
However, it is illegal for a Philippinno domestic helper to take up part-time jobs, according to a spokesperson for the Immigration Department. The concerned worker would be committing an offence under the Immigration Ordinance.
Said the spokesperson: "Even if the household worker is not given extra money for working in a commercial organization, like that Philippino maid in the dentist clinic, this is still an illegal employment because the government expects them only to work for households, but not commercial firms."
Under Section 45 in Chapter 115 of the Immigration Ordinance, any person who contravenes a condition of stay will be guilty of an offence and will be liable to a fine of $5,000 and a two-year imprisonment.
Despite the risk of imprisonment and repatriation, Mary enjoyed her current duty.
"I work in the clinic from 9 to 9 every day. I work for the family, and this is less boring. Moreover, my employer is very kind. I enjoy working here," she said.
Doing part-time jobs or helping employers in shops and commercial organizations has become a trend for Philippino household workers, though it is illegal, according to Miss Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairlady of Unifil.
Unifil, a member of Philippino Migrants Concerns, is an alliance of 25 migrant organizations in Hong Kong. Set up in 1984, it aims at protecting and promoting lives and welfare of Philippino migrant workers.
Said Miss Regalado: "Of course, Unifil won't encourage members to break the laws. Yet, many lawbreakers are compelled by their poor living conditions.
"Usually, Philippino household workers become part-time workers because their contracts are terminated suddenly. In order to meet the high cost of living in Hong Kong, they have to find other jobs as soon as possible. Therefore, many look for temporary jobs which are easier to be found," she explained.
Under existing regulations, both the employers and the Philippino household workers can ask for termination of contracts. When the contract is terminated, the household worker has two weeks to stay in Hong Kong and look for other employers.
Miss Regalado said that emigration of Hong Kong people was one of the major reasons for the sudden terminations of contracts.
"Many employers terminate the contracts suddenly because they have to leave for other countries. Even if they themselves don't leave, many send their children to foreign countries. They no longer need the Philippino maids to look after their children," she said.
Apart from the sudden termination of contracts, high remittance to the Philippino government was another cause for the increasing number of part-time workers, according to Miss Regalado.
Another Philippino maid, Lenny, who also declined to reveal her real name, is 27. She said the high remittance made her a helper in a market at Wong Tai Sin.
"My husband and my 3-year-old son are in the Philippines. My husband is jobless. I am the breadwinner. Even now I send all my earnings back, but some of the money goes to the government rather than my home," said she.
Every day, Lenny has to work in a vegetable shop from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. After that, like Mary, she has to do the household work for her employer, who is also the shop's owner.
However, she seemed not to be as fortunate as Mary - she did not enjoy her job. Yet, she could not report to the Immigration Department, nor terminate the contract, because she could not afford it.
Said she: "I know that it is illegal to work in the market. Every day I am afraid of being caught. Yet, I know if I report to the Immigration Department, both my employer and I will be convicted. The result is that I will be repatriated to the Philippines.
"If I ask for termination of the contract, I have to find another employer within two weeks. Otherwise, same result will come out. I really cannot afford this," added she.
Although she has to work from 6 a.m. to 11p.m. every day, she does not get any extra money. According to Miss Regalado of Unifil, this kind of unfair practice is common.
"Many employers do not clearly state the working hours. Moreover, many household workers are underpaid. Some even need to do the household work in four houses just because the employer asks her to do so in his relatives' houses. Of course, the household workers get no extra money," said Miss Regalado.
Echoing Miss Regalado, Lenny admitted, "Actually, on the weekends, I have to go to Yuen Long to clean the house for my employer's mother.
"Since my employer is not very rich, he does not have any spare room. Every night, I sleep in the bathroom. I really hate this and I always think I was deceived by the agency," added Lenny angrily.
Currently, there are about 200 such agencies in Hong Kong.
Mr. K. M. Cheung, executive director of Overseas Employment Centre Limited, said, "As one of the biggest agencies in Hong Kong, we won't accept applications from part-time job seekers or providers.
"Yet, we know that many agencies are providing this service and it is illegal," added Mr. Cheung.
To stop the problem, Miss Regalado believed that the enhancement of Philippino maids' rights is the ultimate solution.
"If more laws are made to protect the household workers, the employers will not force them to work for their companies or shops.
"Actually, we are now fighting for a longer staying time for those with terminated contracts. Two weeks is not enough," said Miss Regalado.
She welcomed the idea of having some representation for the Philippino maids in the Legco. According to the election regulations, anyone who has lived in Hong Kong for seven years can have the right to vote.
Said Miss Regalado: "Many Philippino household workers have worked in Hong Kong for more than seven years. If they can vote, it will be easier for us to fight for their rights."
However, to Lenny, voting rights are not that important. She seemed to be more concerned about her family in the Philippines. She is looking for a stable life instead.
"I miss my home and want to return home whenever I write letters to my family," said Lenny.