I suggest to attack the rationality of the policy from the legal point of view (administrative law).
Ask about the considerations behind :-
(1) why within 4 months from the default date is prescribed
(2) why levy has to be pre-paid by instalments
(3) any appeal avenue is available
(4) What the fundamental factors are when Director of Immigration exercises his discretion
We should look for "exceptional" approval/precedent for transfer/ refund of the balance of levy (like 蘇絲黃's case) so that we can argue for legitimate expectation.
CASE 1:因唔係hk,遲左一日炒工人要俾6個月levy。
CASE 2:因法例規定外傭只可在合約上的地址工作,而老人家不同住,又要照顧小朋友,咁"A"就提供財務保證,在合約上以老人家為僱主及在合約上寫上小朋友資料,晚上"A"則把小朋友帶回自己家照顧,合約上外傭只要照顧一位老人家及一位小朋友。
2006年12月22日簽一新工人,要付4000介紹費,1100保險,500驗身及2400LEVY,合共8000元
2007年1月15日工人到任,老人家2007年2月25日入院, 2007年3月5日去世。由於合約上的顧主已過世,而由於"A"的家庭成員只有一位和原先的合約相同,地址又不同,必須當新約再簽工人,而工人必需於十四日後離開,工人不願轉到"A"家工作(想找地方小一點及只照顧老人家的工作),"A"要為老人家(僱主)支付機票,人工、雜費。但當最需要工人時,卻沒工人用,到醫院、殮房、殯儀館,都需帶同孩子前往,又要另聘外傭及重新繳交levy及其他費用,新工人未到職,孩子便如人球交予不同親友代為照顧。 :-( :-( :-(
Just want to say thank you to all 4 of you in helping us!
Actually, we need to pay the first installment of levy when we get the maid visa (i.e. before the maid arrives HK). This means that we should pay more than 4x$2400 if we keep the maid for the whole contract. Can the gov't won't start to calculate the levy until the maid starts actually?
We will keep losing money if we change maids as we need to pay annual leave, airticket, advance notice, travel allowance, agency fee... I just paid all these since my old maid resigned after one year with us (when we really trust each other and when the baby gets used to her....)
Thanks again for all the hard works you have done!