60367 They spend it exchanging information and recent news, forming groups in parks, sidewalks, and at the corners of office buildings.
60368 Outdoor stalls catering to these women have sprouted up, as well as an informational paper in Tagalog.
60369 A male Filipino photographer earnestly tries to make a sale, displaying sample photos in one hand and asking, "How about a commemorative photo?"
60370 The economy of Hong Kong has developed to the point that its per capita gross national product surpasses that of its ruler, Britain.
60371 It is very common for middle-class and higher double income families to hire maids.
60372 The number of women leaving the Philippines in order to work continues to increase annually, and an estimated 110,000 to 120,000 women are working in Hong Kong at present.
60373 They account for approximately two percent of the Hong Kong population of six million, and constitute the largest population of foreigners in Hong Kong.
60374 In 1986 they numbered around 37,000, a number that tripled in under ten years.
60375 A maid earns 3,700 Hong Kong dollars a month.
60376 This is about three times as much as a typical laborer in Manila.
60377 These women send back over 100 million dollars annually to their mother country.
60378 "Transportation is convenient in the Central District and there are many churches and banks in the area. I mostly come on Sunday because all my friends and relatives come here," says Victoria Abado, who came to Hong Kong three years ago as a domestic helper.
60379 For the Filipino women who work long hours as live-in helpers, talking together in the Central District is a precious break.
60380 The Central District, home to a large number of expensive hotels and boutiques, also hears complaints such as, "Tourists avoid the area because there are too many Filipinos."