Can we just move past the hyperbole of "slaves" already. I know people and journalists love to use the word because it is shocking but foreign domestic helpers in HK are absolutely nothing like slaves. Has anyone who uses that word learned about real slavery in school or even just watched some of the countless movies that have come out?
Slaves were forcibly and brutally captured. Slaves could be Legally maimed, raped, tortured, and killed. All of those were very prevalent except for killing as slaves were valuable property. Slave owners decided on who slaves consorted with (married) and could change that at whim. Babies born to slaves were also the property of the slave owner and could be killed or sold away at whim. I could go on but you get the point.
If we must try to use a historical context how about saying modern "indentured servants"? Poor Europeans who couldn't afford passage to the new world but wanted to try for a better life left their families, agreed to be bonded to a rich landowner, and work for free for 10 years in exchange for passage. Sure it still isn't a particularly good example but its certainly a lot closer than slavery.
Oh wait it doesn't sound as sexy and shocking as slavery so lets keep using that word.