A Tai Po villa serving as a new shelter for distressed Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong is ready but must receive the green light from local authorities before it can open, with the Philippines’ top labour minister saying the facility is bigger, better and more comfortable.

Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, told the South China Morning Post that the new shelter was ready, while his labour attache at the Philippine consulate, Cesar L. Chavez Jnr, provided some details about the facility.

Cacdac was on a brief stopover in Hong Kong over the weekend after a six-day trip to Geneva, Bahrain and Dubai, and returned to Manila on Sunday evening. He said he would report back to President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on his discussions with labour counterparts in the Gulf states and prepare for a coming Asean committee meeting in Manila on protecting migrant workers.

Chavez told the SCMP that the new shelter in Tai Po was located within a well-guarded gated community and was “more beautiful” than the previous one, with a three-year lease signed after the lease for the last location – a small three-bedroom flat in Kennedy Town – had expired.

The new facility was ready to serve domestic helpers but was pending approval by the local government, he said.

“Once we get approval from the Hong Kong government, we will invite [the media]. The contract has been signed,” Chavez said.