Another Mpox case reported; CHP issues alert

 

CHP graphic

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today confirmed the third case of Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, prompting a call for people to avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox and for sex-workers to receive Mpox vaccinations.

The new case came as CHP continued investigating two confirmed Mpox cases, who both previously visited a “hutong” (or pleasure house) on Shanghai Street in Kowloon, but were not linked to the latest case, before going to China.

Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded 87 Mpox cases (70 local cases and 17 imported cases). All patients were male.

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Epidemiological investigations revealed that most cases had history of high-risk sexual behavior, including having sex with strangers or having sex without wearing condoms.

The latest case was a 44-year-old male who developed itchiness and a skin rash over his lower body from May 13 and attended the Wan Chai Male Social Hygiene Clinic (SocHS) of the Department of Health on May 18.

The CHP subsequently arranged for him to receive isolation treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital. He is in stable condition.

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Information provided by the patient indicated he has not been vaccinated against Mpox and had high-risk exposure in a hotel in Hong Kong during the incubation period.

The two earlier cases were announced Monday (May 25) after Chinese health authorities notified CHP.

The first case involved a 28-year-old male who developed a fever and painful swelling in the groin area on May 8. He visited a "hutong" on Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, on May 3, and had high-risk contacts there.

Press for details

The second case was a 30-year-old male who developed a rash over both legs on May 15. He visited the premises on May 1 and May 3 and had high-risk contacts there.

Although the two patients did not know each other, they both stayed for several hours at the premises during the same period on May 3. Their samples collected after the onset of symptoms tested positive for Mpox.

Both patients are now receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition in China.

Basahin ang detalye!

The CHP has successfully contacted 140 persons who visited the premises on or after May 1. “All are asymptomatic. The CHP has provided them with health education and will put them under medical surveillance. As investigations are still ongoing, the premises will be closed for 21 days starting from today” CHP said.

The DH provides Mpox vaccination services for high‑risk groups. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:

individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;

healthcare workers responsible for caring for patients with confirmed Mpox;

laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and

animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.

High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's SocHS, namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.

The DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services.

 

Electricity cost to rise in HK anew

Hong Kong’s biggest electricity supplier, CLP Power, said today, Tuesday, that it will raise fuel costs by 5.4 percent in June, the third consecutive monthly hike, and the biggest monthly increase so far this year.

In a statement, CLP said that fuel costs for next month would rise to HK$0.42 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up fom the HK$0.40 per kWh for May.

The latest rise marks a steady climb since April, with the surcharge having increased by a total of 3.4 cents per kWh, or more than 8.6 percent, since.

The city's other utility firm, HK Electric, last week announced it was also hiking fuel costs in June by 20 percent from May, due to the Iran war.

HK Electric had also warned that more fuel increases could come in the coming months, as the current levels have yet to fully reflect the rise in fuel costs.

HK Electric supplies energy for Hong Kong Island and Lamma, while CLP Power serves Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau Island, where more than 80 percent of the city's population lives.

With the upcoming fuel hikes, a typical three-member household using 300 kWh a month will pay about HK$6.50 more compared with current levels, and about HK$10.20 more compared wit the level before the increases began in April.

CLP said the fuel cost adjustment reflects the difference between actual and forecast fuel prices, including oil, gas and coal.

Energy Advisory Committee chairman Simon Wong said fuel adjustment charges are expected to continue rising in the coming months as oil prices continue to surge.

He expects the charge to peak around August and remain at an elevated level with future adjustments depending on global developments.

Labour Dep’t opens employment opportunities for Pinoy PRs

 

Employment Services Ambassadors for Ethnic Minorities (LD photo)

Hong Kong’s Labour Department has opened an employment opportunity for Filipino permanent residents aged 15-29.

Under its Ethnic Minority Ambassador Program, the Labour Department will recruit trainees who can communicate in languages of people of diverse race, such as Filipino, to work as "Employment Services Ambassadors for Ethnic Minorities” in job centers and job fairs.

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Having such ambassadors in turn aims to entice job seekers who are ethnic minorities to avail of the Labour Department's services, by providing them assistance in their native languages such as Filipino, Hindi, Bahasa Indonesia, Nepali, Thai, Urdu, Punjabi or Vietnamese.

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• Educational attainment of S.4. to sub-degree level; and
• Ability to communicate in English OR Chinese AND proficient in Filipino.

To signify interest, applicants should go to https://www.yes.labour.gov.hk/Home?c=en to register online for the Recruitment Day by clicking the "Sign up this activity ✓" in the "Details of Recruitment Day" page on or before 8 July 2026 to schedule an interview. Enquiry (office hours): 2383 4932.

Press for details

Applicants may then attend the recruitment day on July 9, 2026 at Kowloon West Job Centre of Labour Department (9/F Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon). 

They must bring their Hong Kong ID Card, resumé education proof (original and photocopy) and employment proof (if applicable).

Basahin ang detalye!

Trainees who initially pass the selection interview will receive free training provided by Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service prior to employment.  

Trainees who complete the training will undergo on-the-job training with pay for 12 months of employment.

HA to use prefix 18285/18286 in making calls

All public hospitals and clinics will use the prefix in making calls from tomorrow

Ever missed an important call from the hospital or clinic you attend because you thought the caller was a scammer?

From tomorrow, May 26 all calls coming from clinics and hospitals attached to the Hospital Authority (HA) will have the unique prefix  182825 or 182826 in their number so residents will know who it is that’s calling and  take the call without hesitation.

The prefix will be used in all HA operating units, including public hospitals, family medicine clinics, specialist outpatient clinics, healthcare institutions and the HA Head Office.

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All  these attached health care facilities will progressively adopt a number between 1828 500 and 1828 599 or between 1828 600 and 1828 699 for caller identification (caller ID), a process that is expected to be completed by end of June.

However all the new numbers will be used solely for caller ID purposes, meaning they cannot be called back. When a person tries to call anyway, he or she will only hear a recorded message indicating which public hospital or clinic the call originated from. If necessary, staff will call again later.

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As for all existing phone numbers for contacting HA operating units, they will remain unchanged. In addition, some HA facilities will still retain direct landline numbers or use mobile phone numbers .

A statement issued by the HA said adopting the unique prefix will alert the public when the HA is calling, thereby reducing the chances of them refusing to pick up due to concerns about excessive promotional calls or potential phone scams, and even missing urgent calls from accident and emergency departments or wards.

Press for details

Everyone is reminded to take care when picking a call from an unknown number to avoid being scammed. If the HA needs to contact anyone, especially in an emergency, one of its staff will call the family directly and provide relevant information to establish identity.

The HA reminds everyone that they should not provide any personal information to calls from unknown source.

Basahin ang detalye!

People who suspect they have received a scam call recently should seek assistance from the Police.

PCG HK launches WhatsApp channel

 

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong has launched its official WhatsApp Channel, which will send messages to subscribers about the latest information, advisories and announcements of community activities.

To register for the service, one must scan the QR code in the attached poster or log in to bit.ly/PHinHongKong.

The new communication channel is in addition to the PCG’s  official website (https://hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/).

Note that it is a one-way information service, meaning users can only receive updates and cannot use the channel to send SMS to the PCG.

Members of the public are also reminded that this PCG channel will never request personal information from the user, or ask for payments or bank details. All transactions will also have to be done directly with Consulate employees.

 

Summer heat, rising humidity prompt alert vs dengue, chikungunya

 

CHP Graphic  

The onset of summer has brought rising temperatures and increased humidity levels -- favorable conditions for mosquito breeding -- prompting the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) to alert the public against  dengue fever (DF) and chikungunya fever (CF).

Hong Kong has recorded 19 DF cases so far this year, including 18 imported cases and one local case, said the CHP, an agency under the Department of Health.

A total of 59 DF cases were recorded last year (2025), all of which were imported cases. In 2024, 161 DF cases were recorded, including 156 imported cases and five local cases.

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During the one-week period from May 15 to May 21, the CHP recorded two imported DF cases. During the incubation periods, one of the patients had travelled to Malaysia, while the other patient had been to multiple countries, namely Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge.

In 2024, the WHO recorded over 14 million cases, which was a record number. From January to July 2025, over 4 million cases and over 3 000 DF-related deaths were reported in 97 countries/territories.

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DF is prevalent in many neighboring tourist destinations. In 2025, Indonesia, India and Vietnam each recorded over 120 000 cases; Malaysia and Thailand each recorded over 50 000 cases; and Singapore recorded over 4 000 cases.

As of May 10, the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 97 cases in Guangdong Province this year, including eight locally infected cases. Guangdong Province recorded over 3 500 locally infected cases in 2025.

Two cases of Chikungunya fever were recorded in Hong Kong so far this year, both of which were imported cases.

Details here

In contrast, Hong Kong recorded 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.

Worldwide, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories since the beginning of 2025. These cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

In Guangdong, four cases were reported this year, including one locally infected case.

Basahin ang detalye!

 The best way to avoid both diseases is to prevent mosquito growth and breeding.

Therefore, the CHP reminded members of the public to maintain good environmental hygiene, and to take appropriate measures to prevent mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when travelling to areas affected by mosquito-borne diseases.

Whether travelling or not, members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites.

​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) also appeals to the public to help carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes.

​The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems.

Pinay cook, unemployed American accuse each other of assault

The case is being heard at Eastern Magistrate's Court

A 40-year old Filipina and a 29-year old American have traded charges of hurting each other, resulting in their case ending up at Eastern Court.

Divina Manning  and David Paulsrude appeared briefly Friday (May 22) before Principal Magistrate David Cheung. They were granted bail of $1,000 each.

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Manning, a cook, and unemployed Paulsrude had a dispute last Jan. 28 in a flat at 8 Square Street in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

The dispute resulted in police filing against the Filipina a charge of wounding, contrary to section 19 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance.

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”… you did unlawfully and maliciously wound Paulsrude David Martin,” the charge sheet said.

Details here

A charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 39 of the Offences against the Person Ordinance, was in turn filed against Paulsrude.

Basahin ang detalye!

The police accused him of assaulting Manning, “thereby occasioning actual bodily harm to the said Manning Divina Imperial.”

ICC rejects Duterte’s bid to stop his prosecution

 

Duterte in his first appearance at the ICC in March last year

The International Criminal Court’s pre-trial chamber has denied former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to appeal the confirmation of crimes against humanity charges against him.

In a 12-page decision issued Thursday night from The Hague, the three pre-trial judges ruled that the two issues raised on Duterte’s behalf by his former lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman were not “appealable issues” that can be elevated to the ICC Appeals Chamber.

Kaufman had argued that the pre-trial chamber erred in law when it adopted a “flexible approach” in the formulation of the charges against Duterte.

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He also said the judges failed “to articulate a reasoned evidentiary basis for confirming the charges.”

The chamber said in its ruling that the first issue raised by the defense was based on a merging of two questions which the court had already said were clearly separate.

 “Despite the defense’s statement to the contrary, the First Proposed Issue is based on a conflation of two questions that are clearly distinct, as already clarified by the Chamber in the Confirmation Decision,” the court said.

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On the second issue, the court said it was a “ a mere disagreement with the manner in which the Chamber articulated its assessment of the evidence.”

The decision removes all avenues for Duterte to stop the trial of the three charges of crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder that were confirmed by the chamber earlier.

A trial chamber has already been constituted to handle Duterte’s upcoming trial, and is scheduled to do its first status conference on May 27.

Senator dela Rosa appeared at the Senate on May 13 before fleeing early the next day

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation says it is leaving no stone unturned in tracking down Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who is named co-conspirator in the ICC charges against Duterte, and who has gone into hiding again after attending a Senate session on May 13.

He went underground for six months earlier amid reports that the ICC had already issued a warrant of arrest against him.

Details here

NBI’s  statement came one day after the Department of Justice declared that the ICC arrest warrant issued against dela Rosa is already enforceable after the Supreme Court denied the senator’s request for a temporary restraining order.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said at a press briefing Thursday, “If we see him (dela Rosa), we’ll arrest him,” Matibag said at a press briefing. “We’re looking for him now.”

Basahin ang detalye!

Matibag said if NBI agents manage to capture the senator, he would be turned over to the DOJ, which will decide if he should be flown to the ICC in The Hague.

Last year, Duterte was flown straight to The Hague after being arrested on arrival at the Manila airport from Hong Kong, on the basis of an ICC arrest warrant.

Renovation workers targeted in latest anti-illegal work operation

Six women were among those arrested for illegal work

Five people working illegally as renovation workers were among 14 suspects arrested in the latest anti-illegal work operation by the Immigration Department, the police and other relevant government agencies.

According to a press statement by Immigration, the five were among renovation workers whose services were recently advertised on social media. Officers conducted an investigation and after  identifying the suspects, pretended to be customers.

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“The illegal workers were subsequently arrested while providing services in Hong Kong,” said the statement.

The five were three men and two women aged 28 to43. They were among 11 workers and three employers arrested during the latest weekly operation of combined forces aimed at flushing out illegal workers.

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The other premises that were targeted were restaurants, warehouses and retail stores located in various locations.

The  six additional workers who were arrested comprised two men and four women, aged 23 to 59. The two men were asylum seekers holding recognizance papers that prohibit them from taking up work. One woman was found in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

Basahin ang detalye!

Two men and one woman, aged 36 to 39, were arrested on suspicion of employing the illegal workers. Immigration said its investigation into the employers is ongoing, and further arrests could not be ruled out.

Working illegally or without express permission from the Immigration Director is a serious offence in Hong Kong, for which custodial sentence is prescribed.

The maximum jail term for illegal workers is two years, but it rises to three years if another offence is committed, like when the worker is an overstayer, illegal immigrant or asylum seeker. The fine in either case is HK$50,000.

An employer faces the more severe penalty of imprisonment for up to 10 years, and a fine of HK$500,000.

To report illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Pinoy student set for sentence on weapons, assault charges

 

Wanchai corner where the teenagers were arrested (Google Maps photo)

A Filipino student is awaiting his sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His fate would be determined by reports to be submitted to the Eastern Court by a probation officer and a communty service officer.

Roldan S. San Jose, 16 years old, was granted bail of $2,000 but is required to attend his sentencing on June 4 by Principal Magistrate David Cheung, who made the order in a hearing on Thursday (May 21).

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His co-accused, Ohiniko Kokou Kouakouvi, an 18 year-old Togolese student and asylum seeker, had his case adjourned on June 26 to await the progress report on his alleged drug problem.

San Jose was accused in a police complaint of violating  section 4 of the Weapons Ordinance, Cap. 217, Laws of Hong Kong after he was found to have in his possession a prohibited weapon -- one metal knuckleduster, a metal fist reinforcement meant to leave serious injuries on opponents in fisticuffs..

His arrest took place on April 7 last year at Lockhart Road at the Junction of Cannon Street, Wan Chai.

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San Jose and Kouarouvi were then jointly charged with conspiring “together and with other persons unknown to assault a person unknown, with intent to cause the said person actual bodily harm,” the police complaint said.

The offense -- a violation of Common Law, section 39 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance and sections 159A and 1590 of the Crimes Ordinance -- took place on or about April 7, in Hong Kong,

Basahin ang detalye!

For his part, Kouakouvi faces the charge of possession of a dangerous drug, contrary to sections 8(1)(a) and (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, after he was found your possession of a dangerous drug, namely one grinder containing 0.04 gram of cannabis in herbal form.

He was arrested on April 7 last year at Lockhart Road at the Junction of Cannon Street, Wan Chai, along with San Jose.

2 recruiters arrested for offering fake jobs in Dubai

 

The arrested recruiters offered fake nanny jobs in Dubai

Two Filipinos who allegedly offered non-existent jobs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates were arrested on Wednesday by operatives from the Department of Migrant Workers and the Philippine National Police.

The two who were identified as Elmina Hajiruk Jawad alias “Mau” and Angelina Paridjal Abduhasan alias “Josh” were arrested in General Trias, Cavite after three people complained that the jobs they promised in Dubai did not materialize.

According to the complaint,  the two suspects offered them jobs as nanny in Dubai, with a salary of 1,600 dirhams (Php26,850) each month. To convince them, “Mau” and “Josh” allegedly showed them a number of applicants who were supposedly about to leave for Dubai to take up the promised job.

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But upon checking, the DMW found that the recruitment agency used by the two suspects to lure victims did not have approved job orders for Dubai

Because of this, the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) decided to raid the agency’s office. But before the operation, the DMW also learned that there were other applicants inside the premises, so they mounted a rescue operation at the same time.

Investigators are now preparing to file a case of illegal recruitment against the two.

The MWPB is also appealing to other victims of “Mau” and “Josh” to reach out to them through https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip so they can be provided with legal help.

State 101visa consultancy has offices all over the country

Earlier, DMW agents also shut down a visa consultancy company for offering fake caregiver and nurse jobs in the United States and Canada and coached applicants to create fake documents to secure visas.

State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy with offices in Pasig and other places across the country, allegedly offered applicants USD1,800 monthly salaries with free meals and housing via tourist or short-term training visas. They were not given contracts, and were promised immediate deployment.

Victims who were estimated to be in the hundreds, reported that after paying processing and reservation fees, agency staff gave false promises and blocked them on social media.

Basahin ang detalye!

DMW said State 101 was not licensed to recruit Filipinos for overseas jobs. However, it has yet to say whether those behind the apparent recruitment scam have been arrested and charged.

Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said there were several "red flags" in the way State 101 operated: victims: (1) it was offering the jobs through social media; (2) it provided no work contracts despite charging applicants heft fees; (3) it promised immediate deployment without going through DMW; (4) it was not licensed to recruit Filipinos for work abroad.

Pinoy avoids jail for criminal damage

 

The building's front door was damaged (Google Maps hoto)

A Filipino who holds a Macau identity card avoided being detained in jail when he received a suspended sentence for deliberately damaging the glass front door of a building in Fortress Hill.

Neil Dennis Baniwas, 25 years old and unemployed, was sentenced by Eastern Court Principal Magistrate David Cheung on Tuesday (May 19) to two months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

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But he was ordered to pay $77,000 as compensation to the owner of the building, Savills Property Management Limited.

With the sentence, Baniwas does not need to spend a day in jail as long as he does not commit any criminal offense in the next 18 months.

Basahin ang detalye!

The case arose after he damaged an entrance glass door, door pillar and a floor tile, “intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged,” the police complaint said.

The offense took place last April 30,  2026 at the ground floor of  Lee & Man Commercial Center, on 169 Electric Road, Fortress Hill.

Baniwas was charged with criminal damage, contrary to section 60 (1) and 63 (2) of the Crimes Ordinance,

Statue Square partially closed off for redevelopment

 

Will this be the end for 'Blackman', a favorite meeting place for FDWs in Central?
(photo from Threads@deviantplus)

An iconic landmark in Central fondly dubbed “Blackman” by many foreign domestic workers may soon be gone, or moved from its present location in Statue Square,  as construction gets underway to link the Central MTR station to the new Harbourfront.

The bronze statue of Sir Thomas Jackson along with the fountain , park benches and shelters in the square where many FDWs often meet on Sundays, have been fenced off until 2031 as part of the redevelopment plan.

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The statue of the first Chief Manager of HSBC was first unveiled in the square in 1906 but was removed by Japanese forces during the Second World War to be melted down for metal but fortunately survived.

It was moved to its present place in May 1966, when the square underwent major reconstruction as part of Hong Kong’s greening campaign.

'Blackman' has been in this spot in Statue Square since 1966

Photos posted online show the raised platform where the statue stands has been boarded up, and is already being demolished.

However, more than 70% of the garden’s remaining area including most leisure spaces and walkways have been kept open.

But there will be major disruptions, with the first two phases of the project requiring excavation and tunnel construction over 45 months, or nearly four years.  

Basahin ang detalye!

Chater Road, where many Filipinos gather on Sundays and holidays, will be used for hauling construction materials, and the existing bus stop there will be relocated about 10 meters to the east.

The third phase which will take another 12 months, will restore parts of Statue Square once the tunnel is completed.

However, nothing is mentioned in the plans as to whether “Blackman” will be returned to where it has lorded over for the past 120 years.