4 tourists arrested for offering makeup, tour services

 

Makeup and photography equipment were seized from the tourists

Any kind of work, paid or unpaid, cannot be performed by anyone who is only permitted to enter Hong Kong as a visitor or tourist.

This was highlighted by the arrest on two consecutive days (September 27 and 28) by four Mainland visitors who were allegedly caught providing make-up, photo-taking and tour guide services in Hong Kong.

According to a statement issued by the Immigration Department, their officers were alerted to the suspected illegal work after the tourists advertised their services on social meia.

A number of officers posed as customers so they could enquire about and book the services of the four arrested suspects. The four were reportedly arrested while providing the services.

The suspects were all women, aged 20 to 31.

Immigration said it will “consider” prosecuting the four for breaching their conditions of stay.

Immigration officers hand out flyers warning people not to hire illegal workers

As part of the anti-illegal work operations, police also distributed flyers which carried the warning, “Don’t employ illegal workers.”

Under Hong Kong laws, tourists, foreign domestic workers and other contract workers who are prohibited from taking unrelated work in Hong Kong, face a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, plus a fine of up to HK$50,000.

Aiders and abettors are equally liable, while employers face the much heftier fine of up to HK$500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Employers are warned that they have an explicit duty to inspect the identity card and make enquiries about a job applicant to ensure the person is lawfully employable.

An immediate custodial sentence or jailing is prescribed for all cases.

The same prohibition was applied when a number of Filipino domestic workers who were offering beauty treatments such as manicure, pedicure and eyebrow trimming, were recently arrested on charges of breaching their conditions of stay.

Much earlier, a crackdown was also carried out on FDWs who were practising dentistry without a license.

 

 

Asylum seeker avoids jail for overstaying

 

Shatin Magistrates Court

An asylum seeker avoided jail today after pleading gulty at Shatin Court to overstaying in Hong Kong for two months.

Lourence Abecia, 38 years old, was actually sentenced by Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong to 16 days imprisonment, but suspended it for one year.

With this sentence, she will remain free as long as she behaves and does not commit another offense. If she does, however, she will serve the sentence along with the penalty for the new offense.

Basahin ang detalye!

Abecia was charged by the Imigration Department with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

She was alleged to have contravened a condition of stay imposed on her by an Immigration officer, who limited her stay in Hong Kong until January 22, 2021 or two weeks after termination of contract, whichever is earlier, but she remained in Hong Kong on March 18, 2021.

She has since claimed non-refoulement which would, if granted, protect her from forcible deportatin to the Philippines.

The status of such claim was not specified.

Longtime Bayanihan admin Tess Ubamos passes on at 66

 

Hong Kong Bayanihan Center’s longtime administrator, Teresita “Tess” Ibañez-Ubamos, passed on after a lingering illness on September 25. She would have turned 67 on October 3 this year.

She is survived by her husband Ed, children Odessa, Rocky and Michael, and granddaughters Kisha and Kaitlyn.

Tess, as she was known to many, had managed the day-to-day operations of the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town since 2004, when it became the site for the first overseas voting for Filipinos in Hong Kong.

DETAILS HERE

She continued overseeing the massive operations involved in administering the manual casting and counting of ballots for the overseas vote every three years, until the switch to automated voting in 2022.

In her role as administrator of the six-floor Bayanihan Center, Tess became fast friends with many Filipino community leaders, as well as the hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who have done volunteer work, or have taken part in various events at the activities and training hub over the years.

Press for details

Officers of the Philippine Consulate and its attached agencies have also heaped praises on her, for having ably managed the center through more than two decades and thousands of events and training activities, despite its tight budget.

The Ubamos family at Bayanihan Center

Among the first to extend their condolences was the Bootstrap Theatre Hong Kong, which paid tribute to Tess’ generosity in providing them a venue for their rehearsals for their debut play last year, and for an intensive acting workshop they provided to OFWs.

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association Hong Kong, which has held some of its activities at the center, including the grand oath taking of its officers in March last year, has also expressed regret.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Tess was a true pillar of our community, a dedicated leader, and a wonderful friend who touched so many of our lives with her kindness and warmth,” said UPAA-HK’s president, Catherine Marsden.

Longtime residents who, like Tess and her family, have played an active role in the various activities of the Filipino Catholic community in Hong Kong, have also expressed sadness at her passing.

In an emotional Facebook post addressed to the Ubamos family, tech executive Jun Sison said, “We would like to embrace and comfort you - all of you - at this very moment, but we do understand that, for now, we can only offer prayers, yes - tears of empathy, and words of consolation hoping our deep sentiments, thoughts and words may even ever so slightly ease the pain you now feel in your hearts.”

Details of the funeral service for Tess have yet to be announced.

Overstaying elderly Pinoy gets 10 weeks in prison

 

Shatin Court

An elderly Filipino widower who is cancer-stricken has been sentenced at Shatin Court to 10 weeks in jail after pleading gulty to overstaying in Hong Kong for more than five years.

In sentencing A. Sison, 73 years old, last Friday (September 25) Magistrate Raymond Wong said: “Normally for this long period of overstay, the sentence is 20 weeks after deduction of discount for guilty plea. I will allow 10 weeks.”

DETAILS HERE

Sison had been charged with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

In asking for a lenient sentence, his lawyer said Sison has suffered severely from his ailment and wants to return to the Philippines before it’s too late to see his three grown up children.

Press for details

When he arrived in Hong Kong as a tourist in August 2019, an Immigration Assistant limited his stay until August 26, 2019, but he remained in Hong Kong until his arrest on December 1, 2024.

He had told his lawyer that he originally came to Hong Kong to visit friends and relatives, but did not want to leave when the time came.

Basahin ang detalye!

He was diagnosed with lung cancer last March, which explained why he did not show up for his hearing last Sept. 1 as he had to be taken to a hospital.

This explanation resulted in Magistrate Wong cancelling an arrest warrant issued against him and ordering a return of his bail money.

OFWs taught how to spot fake news and online scams

 

VERA Files' Ellen Tordesillas says social media is replete with false information

A workshop recently held jointly by the Department of Migrant Workers and VERA Files taught overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) how to identify misinformation, verify online information and recognize digital scams.

In particular, the whole-day training held at the DMW office in Makati City on September 17equipped participants with practical skills on assessing online content and spotting illegal recruitment schemes.

The OFWs learned lateral reading (or a fact-checking strategy used to evaluate the credibility of a website or online author), Google Advanced Search techniques, reverse image search, and spotting red flags in online posts, including altered or AI-generated content.

DETAILS HERE

Lawyer Kristina Andal-Escosia of the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau spoke on fraudulent job offers, impersonation, fake recruitment accounts and other forms of online deception that target Filipinos seeking jobs abroad.

Participants were made to apply the verification techniques taught them earlier to distinguish between reliable information and false or misleading content.

VERA Files President Ellen Tordesillas gave an overview of how disinformation is spread online and why it is important for OFWs to ensure that the information that they get is reliable.

Press for details

Tordesillas said OFWs mainly rely on social media for information on what is happening back home, which unfortunately, is replete with lies, fake information, and half-truths.

“VERA Files is helping OFWs not to be victimized by empowering them with skills and knowledge to distinguish false from real news,” she said.

USec Pajarito says OFWs must verify information before sharing online

DMW Undersecretary Darlene R. Pajarito said that because of the proliferation of disinformation online, it is important for OFWs to verify information first before believing or sharing it online.

 “Kapag may nakita tayong post, hindi natin kailangang agad maniwala. At hindi rin naman natin kailangang agad ituring na mali. We can simply ask: ‘Totoo ba ito? Saan nanggaling? Paano natin mave-verify or masisiyasat?,”she said. (Whenever we see a post, we should not immediately believe in it, but we also should not reject it as false. We can simply ask, ïs this true? Where did it come from? How do we verify or check its veracity?)

Basahin ang detalye!

“That simple habit can make a real difference,” she added. “Because every time we verify before we share, we help protect not only ourselves, but also our families and our fellow Filipinos.

Also among the speakers was Jocel de Guzman of Scam Watch Pilipinas who introduced the Quad Model, which has been adopted by the Department of Information and Communication Technology as the official national anti-scam education and awareness strategy.

The four components of the Quad Model are behavioral change (or anti-scam attitude), volunteer watcher program in communities, schools as workplaces, cross-sector collaboration among government bodies, law enforcers, telcos and banks, and technology-enabled reporting through such apps as eGovPH, Scam Vault PH, and Whoscall.

Participants were encouraged keep in mind the reminder, “Magdamot, Magduda, Mang-isnab, at Magsumbong sa 1326” when faced with suspicious messages, calls or online offers.

 

Deported Pinoy using 4 names charged in DC

 

Jewelry store where theft was allrgedly committed

A Filipino tourist who returned to Hong Kong 10 years after being deported, has been transferred to the District Court as penalties for offenses he was accused of exceeded the limit that a magistracy such as the West Kowloon Court can impose.

Cezar Raiz, 74 years old and also known as Rodrigo C Balajadia, Mario Macaspac and Gregorio Nolasco, is charged with theft contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, and breach of deportation order, contrary to section 43(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance.

DETAILS HERE

Principal Magistrate Don So, in a hearing on Thursday (September 24), set his transfer to the District Court on November 13.

In the meantime, So ordered him remanded in jail.

Raiz was charged with stealing 22 pendants belonging to Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Limited on December 14, 2025, at the Chow Tai Fook shop on 621-623 Nathan Road, Mong Kok.

Press for details

During investigation, his fingerprints matched with those taken from a man under another name who was issued a deportation order dated February 13, 1995 and still in force.

Raiz confirmed to police he was the same man.

Meanwhile, So rejected the guilty plea of an 82-year-old Filipino after the latter added that he just forgot to pay for the three items he was accused of stealing from a ParkNShop store in Discovery Bay.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate So told Eliberto Evangelista: “I cannot accept your guilty plea.”

So adjourned the case to October 26 for trial, and set his bail at $1,000.

Evangelista is accused of theft contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, for allegedly stealing one bottle of eye drops, one bottle of soy sauce and one pack of mustard with a total value of $119.

AMCB makes last-minute pitch for HK$6,172 MDW salary

 

Posters and banners show a hefty salary increase is just one of the concerns of the protesters

Protesters from the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body gathered outside the Hong Kong Labor Department offices in Sheung Wan today, Friday, just days before the expected announcement of the new minimum allowable wage (MAW) for foreign domestic workers.

The protesters who came from different ethnic backgrounds reiterated their call of a “living wage” of no less than HK$6,172 monthly for FDWs, and a food allowance of HK$3,123.

As in the past, the new MAW is expected to be announced shortly, as it usually takes effect on the first of October each year.

Balladares says a much higher increase is necessary because of the rising inflation

AMCB spokesperson and Migrante Hong Kong chair Dolores Balladares said their “last push” for an acceptable wage increase has become very crucial this year, amid the Middle East oil crisis which has led to an inflation spike in many places, including Hong Kong.

“We are very much affected by the high inflation in Hong Kong, which has led to increases in the costs of food, transportation and even public health care,” said Balladares.

“We cannot afford to shoulder these increases on our current salary.”

DETAILS HERE

The current minimum wage for FDWs is HK$5,100 a month with the optional food allowance of HK$1,236 for those whose employers do not provide them with meals.

Balladares pointed out that in the past 25 years, the total salary increase granted to FDWs in Hong Kong amounted to only a HK$1,430, which she called “ridiculous.”

Sring says the 300,000 FDWs in HK have enabled many residents to work and get high pay

Another spokesperson, Sring Atin of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, said that the 300,000 FDWs currently working in Hong Kong have enabled locals to work and receive high salaries, while they have been paid little over the past years.

Without the FDWs, locals will have difficulty caring for elderly and young family members, and managing their households, Sring said.

Both speakers again firmly denounced a call by several employers’groups to freeze their wages, saying everyone in Hong Kong should share the burden of rising prices and a lacklustre economy.

Basahin ang detalye!

If help is needed, it is the government that should be called upon to step in, rather than squeezing FDWs further, the group said.

"Increasing our wage will ensure we can cope with the unending inflation in Hong Kong, which heavily impacts the majority of MDWs (migrant domestic workers) who are striving to live decently and with dignity," Sring said.

The group also pointed out that the growing need in Hong Kong for foreign caregivers for elderly residents who are staying at home, which was highlighted in the recent Policy Address by Chief Executive John Lee.

But “while these caregivers are acutely needed, their projected salaries are not substantially different from standard domestic workers, offering a mere 10% to 20% premium,” said AMCB in a statement.

“ Modern-day slavery remains visibly evident for foreign workers in Hong Kong,” added the statement.

Mary Jane Veloso gets pardon from President Marcos

 

Mary Jane on her return home in Dec 2024 after being released from death row in Indonesia

Filipino former domestic worker Mary Jane Veloso who has been imprisoned since being arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for drug trafficking has received absolute pardon from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., allowing her to be freed.

President Marcos himself made the announcement in an ambush interview with reporters in Samar earlier today, saying he signed the pardon decree yesterday, September 24.

“I signed her pardon yesterday,” he said in Filipino, in response to a question from a reporter. 

There has been no immediate response from the Veloso family and their supporters on Mary Jane’s pardon.

Veloso was sentenced to death after being found guilty after trial in Indonesia on Oct 11, 2010. She was granted temporary reprieve at the behest of then Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Jr. but remained on death row for almost 10 years afterwards.

After a relentless campaign for her release waged by her family, friends and support group Migrante International, the Indonesian government allowed Veloso to be transferred to a prison in the Philippines in November, 2024, in line with prisoner transfer laws between the two countries.

DETAILS HERE

She was released from the Indonesian jail and repatriated to Manila in mid-December 2024, but was immediately moved to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. She has remained there since.

Throughout her arrest and trial she insisted on her innocence, and claimed that she was tricked into smuggling the 2.6 kilos of heroin found inside a hidden lining in a suitcase she was carrying when she arrived at Yogyakarta Airport on April 25, 2010.

Veloso pointed to a family friend, Maria Cristina Sergio, as the one who got her into the mess after luring her to apply as a domestic worker in Malaysia.  Veloso paid Sergio Php20,000 cash, and gave her a motorcycle and cellphone as well to pay for her deployment.

Basahin ang detalye!

But on arrival in Kuala Lumpur Sergio told her that the job was no longer available, and that she would be deployed in Indonesia instead. Sergio took her shopping and bought her a new suitcase for her clothes. Veloso was then introduced to an African man she knew only as “Ike” who gave her a plane ticket and a cell phone number she was meant to call once she landed in Indonesia.

Sergio and her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay a Php2 million fine after being tried for large-scale illegal recruitment in the Philippines. Three Filipinos who complained of having been recruited by the two for overseas jobs acted as complainants.

Veloso’s absolute pardon means she can now be freed immediately, and her political and civil rights fully restored.

 

 

 

Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival at Victoria Park extended to Oct 4

 

Colorful lanterns hang over Victoria Park

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has announced that the Mid-Autum Lantern Carnival 2026 currently being held at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay will be extended for a week, or until October 4, so more people can enjoy the display.

The lantern-lighting hours in the park have also been extended until midnight from September 24 to 27.

DETAILS HERE

Originally, the Lantern Carnival which opened on September 17, was set to last only until Sunday, September 27.

The lanterns which were lit at 6pm, were originally meant to remain on until 11pm except tonight, the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The spectacular "Shadowlight" greets visitors at the entrance

According to the LCSD, the enthusiastic response to the lantern displays prodded them to extend the carnival for a week. With the new schedule, people who will go out on October 1 to celebrate Natioal Day, will also be able to visit the Lantern Carnival.

Press for details

Since it opened, thousands of people have flocked to Victoria Park to view the giant lanterns on display, particularly “Shadowlight,” the large-scale Qinhuai creation by artisans from Nanjing. The intricately created lantern which greets visitors at the entrance is presented by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Chicken noodle soup in a giant bowl is one of the lanterns featuring local delicacies

This year’s display themed "A Delightful Journey through the Lantern Garden” features lanterns of local delicacies, from dimsum and mooncakes to bowls of noodles. There is also a corridor of heart-shaped arches featuring scenes of daily life in Hong Kong, as well as paper-crafting displays with scenes featuring rabbits embracing a giant moon, and more.

Basahin ang detalye!

The traditional and vibrant Fire Dragon Dance which starts in nearby Tai Hang at about 7pm and ends in Victoria Park, adds color and fun to the Lantern Carnival celebration.

For details, please visit: www.cpo.gov.hk/event/en-mid-autumn-lantern-carnival-2026/.

 

Freebies and discounts galore for Oct 1 celebrations

 

Catering industry officers unveil $77 meals and 30% dining discounts for Oct 1

More than 3,800 eateries across Hong Kong will offer perks and discounts of up to 30% on dine-in bills on October 1 to celebrate National Day.

That’s according to catering sector lawmaker Jonathan Leung who made the announcement on Thursday.

Fifteen restaurants under the Tai Hing chain including Men Wah Bing Teng and TeaWood, will offer a 30% discount for dine-in customers for the day.

Basahin ang detalye!

Some restaurants are even offering meals at promotional prices of HK$77 or HK$10.1 for the entire bill, to symbolize the 77^th anniversary of China’s founding on October 1.

For the first time, even street market eateries, food courts, convenience stores and five-star hotel restaurants are taking part in the dining treats being offered for the day.

As before, there will be a Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on Oct. 1 which will start at 8pm and last for 23 minutes.

Tram and Star Ferry rides will again be free to general public

Free rides on the tram and on selected Star Ferry and Fortune Ferry routes will again be available to the public. The MTR will also raffle off 77,000 free single-ride tickets to passengers.

In addition, Greater Bay Airlines will offer 77% discounts on original fares for all non-charter routes during the promotion period.

All commercial cinemas will also offer half-fare discounts on movie tickets, while all sports and leisure facilities, including museums, run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will be opened free to the public.

Part of the promotional offers will start from next week through early October.

Also in store are special treats that align with the government’s effort to boost the so-called “silver economy” by handing out more concessions to resident seniors. These include discounts on texture-modified food which an elderly person can enjoy, along with companions.

Maxim’s Group is also offering a 30% discount on “Gentlemeal,”its soft meal brand, for elderly customers who dine in selected outlets using a Senior Citizen Card or a JoyYou Card. The concession is already on offer and will run until December 31.

Elderly residents will get extra treats on National Day

Leung said the National Day promotions in recent years have been a financial success, but the catering industry is not looking at generating additional profits with the expanded offers.

"We just want to promote Hong Kong. We want to make it a mega event, it's like every year people remember this day, they should come to Hong Kong to enjoy such a promotion," he told reporters.

He expects this year’s treats which coincide with Hong Kong’s recent wins in the Asian Games, will encourage both residents and tourists to go out and celebrate.

Employment agent, client jailed for conspiracy to defraud Immigration

 

Shatin Magistrates Court

An employment agent who submitted fake employment contracts to induce Immigration officers to grant a visa to another Filipina, was sentenced at Shatin Court to a total of 10 months imprisonment in two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Her Filipina client, in a separate hearing at Shatin, was also convicted of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to eight months and 20 days’ imprisonment.

Both pleaded guilty earlier.

Employment agent Jackielou Passporte, aged 45, was sentenced by Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong to seven months imprisonment for the first charge and eight months for the second, to run at the same time excpert for two months in the first sentence which will run after the second sentence.

DETAILS HERE

In both cases, she was charged with violation of Common Law and sections 2(3) and 4(2) of the Criminal Jurisdiction Ordinance, Cap. 461 and punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

In the first case, Pasaporte was charged with conspiring with Desiree Bernabe on May 13, 2025 to submit documents purporting to show Bernabe and So Kam entering into a domestic helper contract.

The acts “induce(d) the Director (of Immigration) and his officers to act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant Bernabe, Desiree Romero permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted,” the comlaint filed by the Immgration Department said.

The second charged Pasaporte with conspiring with Bernabe on June 26, 2025 “to defraud the Director of Immigration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("the Director") and his officers” by presenting a fake employment contract between Bernabe and Kwan Yun Pak.

Basahin ang detalye!

Bernabe, on the other hand, was sentenced to eight months in jail. The sentence consisted of five months and 23 days for the first charge and six months and 18 days for the second charge, to run at the same time, except for two months and two days from the first sentence which will run after the second.

In the first charge, Bernabe was accused of “dishonestly and falsely representing” to Immigration officers in May and June 26, 2025 that she had been employed by So Kam Lo as a domestic helper and her entries to and remaining in Hong Kong were for the purpose of working as a domestic helper.

In the second charge, she “conspired with a person known as Jacky and a person known as Jimmy,” to defraud Immigration officers, by lying that she had been employed by Kwan Yun Pak as a domestic helper.

In both cases, she induced Immigration officers to “act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant you permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted,” the complaint added.

11 suspected illegal workers and 9 employers arrested

 

The arrested workers were said to have worked as dishwashers, cleaners and food servers

Eleven people, described as mostly Indonesian and Filipinos, were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal work, in an operation carried out by the Immigration Department for over a month that ended Thursday, September 23.

A press statement issued by the Immigration Department said nine suspected employers were also arrested.

Among the suspected illegal workers, three are currently employed as FDHs, five were former FDHs who had overstayed their visa, while three were overstaying tourists. They comprised two men and nine women, aged 34 to 51.

Basahin ang detalye!

They were arrested during territory-wide raids that targeted restaurants, retail shops, food factories, hair salons, and various residential, commercial and industrial buildings. They were reportedly found working as dish washers, cleaners and food service workers.

The nine suspected employers comprised two men and seven women aged 34 to 54 who were either owners or persons-in-charge of the companies and restaurants involved.

During the operation, a forged Hong Kong identity card was seized.

Immigration said investigations into the alleged illegal work activities are still ongoing, and further arrests are not being ruled out.

The anti-illegal work operation codenamed “Swordfish” specifically targeted FDHs who breached their conditions of stay.

Items seized during ''Öperation Swordfish''

The press statement said, "A helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer as listed in the 'Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties' attached to the Contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person.”

Tourists or visitors are not allowed to take up any job, paid or unpaid, while FDHs are only allowed to perform domestic work at the address specified in their employment contracts.

Those found to have violated their visa conditions face a maximum jail term of two years and a fine of up to HK$50,000. The jail term rises to a maximum of three years if the offender is an overstayer, illegal immigrant or asylum seeker holding a recognizance document.

Those holding forged HK identity cards face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.

In addition, illegal workers may face deportation by order of the Chief Executive, and barred from entering Hong Kong in future.

Employing people who are not lawfully employable is a more serious offence, for which the maximum penalty is 10 years in jail, and a fine of up to 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.