非香港居民在香港的逗留期限 Breach of Condition of Stay
無論你來香港工作還是旅遊，如果你不是香港居民，須留意逗留條件上的期限。
在HKSAR v Palathanthirige [2016] 3 HKC 30一案中，一名外籍傭工的逗留條件有效至2011年9月23日或僱員合約終止後的兩個星期，以較先者為準。該名外籍傭工被提早終止合約，但是她在香港逗留多了5年7個月。被告的原因是她希望留在香港來避免她丈夫與她離婚，以免在當地傳統上影響她女兒日後結婚的安排。在審理案件時，被告更正在懷孕。
香港第115章《入境條例》第41條規定非香港居民須遵守入境處發出的逗留條件，違例者可被罰款港幣$50,000及監禁兩年。即是被告如上述案件中的外傭因離婚等個人問題而選擇逗留在香港，均屬違法。
在Palathanthirige，法官考慮到大量的非香港居民逾期逗留的話，會衍生社會資源的分配、治安等理由的問題。因此，上訴庭認為裁判官裁定被告九個月監禁能起阻嚇作用，並非不合理。不過，法官考慮到被告認罪、正懷有身孕、其父親患有末期癌症而減少了刑期。因此，我們建議非香港居民了解逗留條件，如果希望延期逗留則嘗試向入境處申請，以免觸犯法例。歡迎致電或WhatsApp 69776708 林先生查詢報價及預約。
Can I stay longer than the Condition of Stay as a non-Hong Kong resident?
If you are visiting Hong Kong from a foreign country, it is important to be aware of your Condition of Stay whether you are working or travelling.
In HKSAR v Palathanthirige [2016] 3 HKC 30, a domestic helper was sentenced for breach of condition of stay contrary to s.41 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap.115) (IO). The domestic helper could stay until 23 September 2011 or two weeks after termination of employment, whichever was earlier. However, she overstayed for more than 5 years and 7 months after her contract was prematurely terminated because she wanted to avoid the divorce with her husband, which could prejudice the marriage of her daughter in tradition. She was even pregnant at the time of the appeal.
A foreigner is required to stay within the condition of stay under s.41 of IO. Foreigners who breach the condition of stay shall be liable to a fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years. A person commits an offence even if he/she has personal reasons, such as the domestic helper’s divorce in the case above.
In Palathanthirige, the court considered the policy reasons such as financial resources and security if a large number of people overstay. The court agreed that nine months sentence for the domestic helper was still within reasonable range to serve a deterrent effect. The judge however, mitigated the sentence to take into account of her early plea of guilt, pregnancy and her father’s terminal stage of cancer. Therefore, the court is strict when dealing with overstaying cases. It is important to apply for extension of stay if you want to extend your stay in Hong Kong.
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