HK$3.5 billion lost to scams in six months

 

Anti-fraud information bulletin from Privacy Commission

Hong Kong Police have said in a news conference Friday that a total of HK$3.5 billion was lost to scams in the first half of the year, involving 20,613 cases.

Only around a tenth of the cases involved investment scams, but the total losses from these amounted to nearly half of the total, or HK$1.66 billion.

Possibly the biggest loser was a 67-year-old foreign businessman who was tricked into buying HK$84.79 million worth of cryptocurrency, then transferring all these into the digital wallet of a fraudster who posed as an investment expert on Facebook.

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After befriending the businessman in June 2025, the scammer started a romantic relationship and over the next seven months, succeeded in syphoning off all the cryptocurrency that the victim was enticed to buy.

In classic fashion, the businessman realized he had been scammed only after failing to withdraw his supposed investment returns.

The same thing happened to a 64-year-old local businesswoman who was conned into purchasing cryptocurrency amounting to HK$10 million by a scammer who she met online in May, after posting a property rental advertisement.

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The scammer who posed as an interested buyer of the property befriended the victim, and eventually convinced her to invest in cryptocurrency, and offered to help set up her account.

It was during the set-up process that the scammer managed to steal the victim’s wallet credentials and password, and siphon all the money from the account.

Fun Coffee investment a Ponzi scheme, say police

Another investment scam that unravelled in the past several months was the Fun Coffee case, in which more than 270 people had reported losing a total of more than HK$113 million.

The victims aged 32 to 83, each lost between HK$3,000 and HK$9.63 million in the alleged Ponzi scheme which was run through an app that disappeared online in mid-July.

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Hong Kong Police said eight people have been arrested in connection with the case, including two who live in Macau.

Officers said they have been working with international law enforcement agencies to tackle companies suspected of engaging in fraudulent activities, in particular those claiming to be based overseas.

Illegal recruiter for Singapore job jailed 14 years & fined P1M

 

The accused charged victim Php737,357 for the fake job

A Filipino man who charged a job applicant more than Php700,000 for a non-existent job as nursing aide in Singapore has been sentenced to between 14 and 16 years in prison by a Regional Trial Court judge in Caloocan City.

Roderick R. Paculdar was also fined Php1 million and ordered to pay back the victim Php737,357 with 6 % interest every year.

According to the findings of the court, the complainant paid the money to Paculdar from March to April 2024 after he promised to work on her deployment to Singapore.

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The victim sought help from the Department of Migrant Workers when Paculdar failed to make good on his promise to secure the job for her.

Upon checking, the Migrant Workers Bureau of the DMW found that the accused was not connected to a licensed recruitment agency, nor was he licensed on his own to recruit or deploy Filipinos for work abroad.

When Paculdar again asked for an additional Php6,500 from the victim, the DMW took her to the Caloocan City Police, which set up an entrapment operation on Apr 18, 2024 outside a Jollibee outlet at the SM City mall in the city.

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Police operatives recovered the marked money from Paculdar after the sting operation was revealed.

The court found Paculdar guilty of illegal recruitment under the Labor Code and Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by RA No 10022.

In a statement, the DMW again reminded overseas job applicants to ensure that the recruiter or recruitment agency they are dealing with is licensed before making any payment. In case of any suspicious job offers, the DMW must immediately be informed.

 

Pinay gets 11 months after pleading guilty to 2 Immigration charges

 

Shatin court

A Filipina has begun serving her combined sentence of 11 months handed down today, Friday, at Shatin Court after admitting guilt for two Immigration offenses, but needs to wait until September for the resumption of her third case.

The sentence on Eden Magnanao, aged 49, consisted of eight months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to defraud and 11 months for taking employment while remaining in Hong Kong in breach of the limit of stay.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong ordered that the two sentences run concurrently.

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Magnanao pleaded guilty to the first charge, conspiracy to defraud contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

The Immigration Department charged her with conspiring with a certain Mr. James to “dishonestly and falsely represent” that she was applying between December 2025 and January 22, 2026 for employment with Tse Kam Wai Graeme as a domestic helper.

The conspiracy resulted in an employment visa being issued by Immigration officers to Magnanao, “contrary to their public duty, … under circumstances in which they would not otherwise have granted such permission,” the charge sheet issued by the Immigration .Department stated.

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Magnanao also pleaded guilty to taking employment while remaining in Hong Kong in breach of the limit of her stay, contrary to sections 38AA(1) (c) and 38AA (2) of the Immigration Ordinance.

She admitted that between March 2026 and May 27, 2026 in Hong Kong, she took employment as an odd job worker while being a person who had remained in Hong Kong in breach of the limit of stay. The Immigration Ordinance prohibits such employment, whether paid or unpaid.

The third charge, which Magistrate Cheang adjourned to September 11 for mention the third case, is breach of condition of stay for overstaying for six months contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, 

Magnanao is accused of overstaying from December 2025 or two weeks after termination of contract, to her arrest on May 27, 2026.

DH gets bitter lesson from stealing 100 yuan

 

 Kwun Tong Court

A domestic helper today found out that stealing 100 yuan from her employer would cost her far more in terms of money, time, anxiety and a criminal record that would make it hard for her to find a new employer after being terminatedd.

D. Duban, 45. years old, pleaded guilty today at Kwun Tong Court  to stealing 100 yuan from her employer at their residence at a flat in Malibu, 1 Lohas Park Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories last June 16.

Acting Principal Magistrate Li Chi-ho sentenced her to a fine of $1,500 plus seven days’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

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Tseung Kwan O Police charged her with theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

As a result, she lost her job, and was listed as having “no fixed place in Hong Kong” for address.

Meanwhile, at the West Kowloon Court, a Filipino student was fined $500 after he pleaded guilty to possession of Part I poison, contrary to sections 23(1),33(1) and 34 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.

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J. Esteban was arrested last February 3 inside the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College, Tai O Road, Lantau Island, New Territories for possession of a device containing a poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, namely, 5.77 grams of a liquid containing nicotine.

Principal Magistrate Don So set the fine to be equivalent to Esteban's cash bail.

Filipino nurses who want to work in Canada, take note

 

MWO Vancouver will conduct the information session

Filipino nurses who are interested to know the rules, requirements and procedures for getting admitted as a registered nurse in British Columbia, Canada may attend an online information session this Friday, August 14, 4:00-6:30pm.

The briefing will be conducted by the Migrant Workers Office in Vancouver, Canada, and is open to all Filipino nurses, wherever they may be.

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MWO Hong Kong shared a poster on the session on its Facebook page, saying it could help Filipinos in Hong Kong gain additional knowledge.

The briefing is also aimed at helping Filipino migrant workers avoid taking irregular migration pathways and protect them from illegal recruiters.

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There are only a limited slots available, so everyone is encouraged to register promptly through this link: (𝑏𝑖𝑡.𝑙𝑦/3𝑇𝐻49𝑁𝑀) 𝑜 scan the 𝑄𝑅 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒 in the accompanying poster.

MWO HK also reiterated a warning for all Filipino jobseekers to ensure they go through the legal and authorized process approved by the Department of Migrant Workers if they want to work abroad. 

MWO checks on 61-year-old Filipina stabbed by amok in Pokfulam

 

MWO staff with the stabbing victim whose face is blurred

Staff from the Migrant Workers Office Hong Kong have visited at the hospital the 61-year-old Filipina domestic worker who was stabbed in the back and side by an apparently mentally ill man in Pokfulam last Monday.

A statement issued by MWO on Tuesday said the Filipina who was confined at the Queen Mary Hospital was in good condition. 

Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, Jr. told The SUN earlier she was  expected to be discharged after only one day.

“Mabuti na lang at hindi malalim ang mga saksak sa kanya sa likod,” said a senior MWO officer who helped check on the victim’s condition. (It was a good thing the stab wounds on her back were not deep).

The MWO statement said the worker will be supported and helped throughout while her case is being investigated.

A police report on the incident said the Filipina who resides in the Baguio Villa estate where the 22-year-old assailant also lives, was stabbed at 550 Victoria Road opposite the housing block.

Still shot from a video recording of the stabbing incident

Videos of her being accosted, chased, then stabbed with a knife by the Southeast Asian-looking man went viral. Two men who came to her rescue prevented her from getting seriously hurt.

Another video showed her standing still with blood seeping through her shirt while a police officer convinced her to get onto a waiting ambulance.

A 61-year-old male security guard was also injured at the elbow while parrying thrusts by the suspect.

Officers arrived at the scene at about 9:24pm after receiving numerous calls for help from bystanders. Their preliminary investigation showed the attacks on the victims were random. The knife used on the Filipina was a fruit knife measuring 28 cm.

When the officers checked the flat of the suspect, they found a cat with a head injury. The cat was taken to a relevant institution for care and check-up.

No mention was made in the report of any case being filed against the attacker, reinforcing stories that he had a history of mental problems.

 

 

 

 

2 Pinays acquitted of illegal work charges

 

Shatin Magistrates Court

Two Filipinas charged by the Immigration Department with breaching their condition of stay after they were arrested for illegal work in a Tai Po restaurant, were acquitted on the first day of their trial on Tuesday at Shatin Court.

Deputy Magistrate Chan Yip-hei pointed to errors by Immigration officers in arresting Katherine Mae Barroa, 33 years old, and Remedios Banac, aged 52, as reasons for the acquittal in the middle of the trial.

Three Immigration officers testified for the prosecution, but the defense lawyer pointed out that the case document was completed only eight months after the arrests, that the two defendants were not properly advised of their rights, and no Tagalog interpreter was present during the arrests.

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With Magistrate Chan’s decision, the second day of hearing was cancelled.

Both Barroa and Banac were charged with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, and by virtue of Regulation 2 of the Immigration Regulations, after they were arrested on Nov. 9, 2025.

Barroa was charged with performing “odd job duties at No.76 Lo Tsz Tin Village, Ting Kok, Tai Po, other than approved by the Director of Immigration,” while holding a domestic helper’s visa to work for Leung Ka Ling at his address, the charge sheet issued by the Immigration Department said.

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The visa was granted to her by an immigration assistant on March 18, 2024.

Banac was accused of working at the same Tai Po restaurant, contravening her condition of stay imposed by an immigration assistant on January 25, 2025, which permitted her to remain in Hong Kong for employment as a domestic helper for Ronald Lam Siu Por at his specified address.

Migrants groups slam employers’call for wage freeze

 

AMCB says the minimum wage of $5,100 for FDWs is already 'very low' (File)

Migrant domestic workers’organizations have lashed out at a proposal by a coalition of employers’ groups to freeze their statutory minimum wage, calling it a “backward demand” that targets the most vulnerable and vital labor sector in Hong Kong.

The Asian Coordinating Migrants Body (AMCB), an umbrella organization of foreign domestic worker organizations from various ethnic groups, said they realize that times are hard because of the economic global crisis, but migrants should not be used as “economic scapegoats for systemic local inflation and lack of public welfare.”

The International Domestic Service Industry Development Federation and the Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices (QAHEP) called for a wage freeze earlier this week, claiming that mandated pay hikes could cause mass contract terminations.

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The coalition cited a July survey showing 97% of employers are opposed to wage increases for FDWs, saying it would strain their finances. The group also said FDW pay has risen7.8 percent over three years while the consumer price index rose only 5.4 percent.

Instead of a statutory increase in the MAW, the employers called for a mechanism that will reward exceptional domestic workers and retain the current minimum pay of HK$5,100 per month for all others.

But AMCB says the current MAW is already “incredibly low” as it translates to just HK$10 an hour, given that MDWs work 16 hours on average.

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Freezing their wages would push migrant workers deeper into financial hardship as it would effectively amount to a pay cut, given the rising cost of basic commodities.

They also accused the employers’groups of using faulty logic in comparing their wages to civil servant salaries which are far above the minimum wage, and sowing fear among migrants by warning of mass terminations.

Another group, the Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Union (FADWU), also hit out at the call for a wage freeze, saying recent salary increases have failed to catch up with the rising cost of inflation.

Both groups urged the Hong Kong government to reject the employers’ call, and instead address the long-standing problem with the low wages paid to locals and migrant workers.

 

DH gets 9 months for laundering $279K

 

West Kowloon Court

A Filipina domestic helper was jailed for nine months on Tuesday after a trial at West Kowloon Court, for a charge of money laundering. A total of $279,859.55 passed through her bank account eight years ago, and she was presumed to have known that the money came from crime.

Mary Grace Camania, 51 years old. was charged with dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Magistrate Shirley Hung handed down the sentence on Camania for the offense that took place from June 28 to August 29, 2018.

Camania had been accused of handling, together with other persons unknown, $279,859.55 in her account with Hang Seng Bank Limited.

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A charge sheet issued by the police said the amount, in whole or in part directly or indirectly, represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence.

 

Filipina DH among 2 stabbed by amok in Pokfulam

 

Assailant is caught in the act of stabbing the Filipina

A Filipina domestic worker was one of two people who got injured after an apparently mentally ill man armed with a knife went on a rampage at the Baguio Villa estate in Pokfulam this Monday morning.

This was confirmed by Philippine Labor Attache to Hong Kong Cesar Chavez, Jr. who said his staff have been in touch with doctors looking after the Filipina, and have been informed that she could be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

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Labatt Chavez said the Filipina worker sustained three stab wounds on her back but they were shallow, and caused no extensive injuries.

He assured the community that they will continue assisting the migrant worker even after she is discharged.

A guard and another man stopped the attacker from inflicting further harm on the Filipina

The Filipina was one of two people stabbed by the assailant who attacked them at the residential complex at about 9am.

The other victim was a security guard who sustained wounds to his hand. Both he and the domestic worker were conscious and were on their feet when taken to Queen Mary Hospital.

The suspect, who was described by onlookers as of South Asian origin, was arrested by police at the scene after he was restrained by security guards and passers-by. Taken from him was a knife measuring 28 centimeters long.

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The case was classified as wounding and is being investigated by the Western Police District.

Several videos uploaded online showed the entire incident. In one video, the Filipina who appeared to be in her 40s, is shown freezing in her track when she came face to face with the bearded amok outside the estate, on Victoria Road.

A Filipino man could be heard shouting from atop one of the buildings, “Äte, ate, layo!” (Big sister, get away!)

The Filipina tried to sprint across the street but the assailant pursued her, and started stabbing her from behind.

A security guard and a black-clad man who was described in news reports later as a friend of the assailant, rushed to her rescue. The man in black pushed the assailant away, while the security staff used a long stick to separate the two.

The Filipina initially refused to board the ambulance despite blood seeping through her shirt

Another footage showed the victim being asked in Filipino by bystanders why she was stabbed and she replied in Filipino, “hindi ko alam.” (I don’t know).

Police officers who had by then arrived asked her to board an ambulance which was on standby but she initially refused, despite blood seeping through her shirt. She was eventually persuaded to board, and was whisked away to hospital.

The wounded security guard, on the other hand, was shown parrying away the knife held by the assailant before fellow guards came to his rescue.

Filcom leader Aziz Tuano is confirmed as hiker found dead in Tai Po

 

Aziz with Suzette in one of the many hikes they took together (Suzette Bagatua's FB page)

Friends and family members have confirmed that Aziz Tuano, a longtime Filipino community leader in Hong Kong and migrant worker, was the man found dead by hikers along Plover Cove Country Park trail in Tai Po yesterday afternoon.

His partner, Suzette Bagatua, who used to also work in Hong Kong but has since moved back to her hometown in Zamboanga del Norte, told The SUN she will fly in as soon as she finishes preparing the documents she needs to bring his body home.

Tuano, who turned 64 only last month, was found dead by rescue workers yesterday afternoon after receiving a call from other hikers at 2:17pm. An initial post-mortem determined he had been dead for between six and 12 hours.

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A bloodied rock found nearby appeared to indicate Tuano fell and hit his head on it.

Marites Nuval, one of his longtime buddies and a fellow former president of Global Alliance Hong Kong, said Tuano was hiking alone. He started off Saturday morning amid a “very hot weather” warning from the Hong Kong Observatory.

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Nuval said Tuano was a regular hiker and former soldier who remained fit without any known ailment. He came to Hong Kong in 1986 with his employer, a prominent Filipino businessman who lives on Tregunter Path in Mid-Levels

Despite this, his friends often reminded him not to hike alone, especially to remote areas as was his wont, which he started doing after Bagatua who used to accompany him on his hikes, went home for good two years ago.

Still from a video Aziz sent to Marites Saturday morning showing the start of his hiking trail

Shortly after 10am on Saturday, Tuano sent a short video of his hiking trail to Nuval, showing a long unshaded and paved road in the middle of the Plover Cove Reservoir. That was the last communication she had with her longtime friend.

That evening, Bagatua called Nuval as Tuano was no longer picking up his phone. Together, they and a few other friends, called over and over until his line went dead.

“Sa umaga pa lang (Sunday) iba na ang nararamdaman ko, pero pinag pray ko na sana walang masamang nangyari,” Nuval said. (Early Sunday morning, I started feeling uneasy but I just prayed that nothing bad had happened).

Bagatua also saw news reports about a man being found dead on the Plover Cove hiking trail that afternoon, and contacted Nuval to confirm if that was the same place Tuano had sent a video from. Dread washed over them both after Nuval said it was.

At 4:50pm, after seeing that Tuano’s messenger account was active again, Nuval called, heart pounding, but it was a police officer who picked up and said Tuano had met an accident and they needed to contact his employer immediately. Nuval knew then that something terribly wrong had happened.

His employer was duly informed, and he is reportedly flying to Hong Kong today to help with identifying and repatriating the remains.

Aziz's selfie during one of the hikes he had with Suzette and Marites

Nuval is heartbroken, thinking that her former hiking buddy could have been saved had there been someone with him, or the hikers who saw him had decided to take the trail hours earlier

“Siguro biglaan ang pagkatumba kaya di na sya nakatawag ng 999 at wala sigurong nag hike doon last Saturday kasi nga po sobrang init” (He might have fallen suddenly so he was not able to call 999 and there were probably no other hikers around because it was really very hot).”

The official cause of his death will be known after an autopsy. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due time.

In the meantime, people who knew Tuano, especially the many friends he made throughout his long stay in Hong Kong, are asked to pray for his eternal repose.

OWWA clarifies anew terms for use of OFW lounges

 

OFW Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has amended the rules at its OFW lounges at the Manila Airport, to accommodate those who arrive from abroad and have domestic connecting flights within 24 hours.

The amendment came after a Facebook post that became viral recounted an OFW's experience of being initially rejected upon her arrival at NAIA Terminal 3 from Miami, because her connecting domestic flight was more than 6 hours later. She was later accommodated, but only for six hours.

“OWWA listens to the experiences, comments, and suggestions of our OFWs,” it said in a Facebook page. “… we apologize for the added fatigue and frustration this has caused to our compatriots upon their return home. Every comment is an opportunity to review our policies and further improve our service.”

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The post said OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan, along with OWWA Management, visited the OFW Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 to observe the actual operations, listen to OFWs, meet with frontline personnel, and ensure that the clarifications and improvements are clearly and properly implemented.

OWWA clarified the following guidelines:

• Returning OFWs who arrived from an international flight and have a confirmed domestic connecting flight within 24 hours of their arrival may use the OFW Lounge.

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• But the maximum of six hours per Loungevisit for all other OFWs will remain to ensure equitable access and to provide an opportunity for everyone to use the Lounge.
• The 24-hour period for inbound OFWs with connecting flights is the basis of eligibility and does not imply a continuous 24-hour stay in the Lounge.
• Extension of stay may be considered based on available capacity and verified special circumstances, such as medical needs, senior citizen status, disability, and other situations requiring additional assistance.

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The OWWA post said that every day, an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 OFWs depart from NAIA. “The seating capacity of the OFW Lounge in Terminal 3 is limited to 216 and 140 in Terminal 1. The six-hour limit is important so that more OFWs can take advantage of the facility, especially those whose departure time is approaching,”it added.

OWWA has an online, real-time OFW Lounge Management and Monitoring System to monitor the number of users and available seating capacity in each Lounge. Before entering, OFWs can see on the display outside how many slots are still available. Through this, they can immediately know the actual situation in the facility, avoid overcrowding, and better manage the use of the Lounge.

“When the Lounge is full, our personnel will implement a proper waiting or queuing system. OFWs will also be clearly informed of the current occupancy, expected waiting time, and available assistance,” OWWA said.

It added that all frontline personnel were reminded of the proper implementation of the clarified guidelines.

“Beyond following the policy, they are expected to treat each OFW with understanding, patience, respect, and concern, especially those who are tired from long trips or have special needs,” the OWWA said.

OWWA will also coordinate with the New NAIA Infra Corp. to study possible measures to improve operations and expand the OFW Lounges.

“We also request that respect and understanding be practiced among each other. May personal judgments be avoided against the OFW who shared their experiences and our frontline personnel who continue to serve. We can express our opinions, listen to each side, clarify policies, and improve services without hurting or belittling anyone,” the OWWA said.

Elderly Filipino dies while hiking amid record hot weather

 

The hike up Plover Cove Country Park is classified as 'hard'

A 64-year-old Filipino driver was found dead while apparently hiking in Tai Po amid the hottest day ever recorded in Hong Kong.

Police said they received a report at 2:17pm from hikers about the man being found unconscious on the Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail.

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Firefighters rushed to the mountain trail, while the Government Flying Service was also dispatched. But the man who was on foreign domestic worker visa was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reports said a doctor had put the time of death about six to 12 hours earlier. The reports further said the Filipino man was in hiking attire when found.

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He had a head wound, while a nearby stone had traces of blood. But no signs of struggle or fighting were found.

The cause of death will be known after an autopsy.

Swimmers had to use umbrellas to protect them from the scorching sun (China Daily HK)

The incident came as Hong Kong sweltered through its hottest day since records were first made in 1884.

Urban areas sizzled in 36.9 degree-temperature at around 2pm on Sunday , while in Sheung Shui, the temperature shot up several degrees higher, at 39.8 degrees.

The Hong Kong Observatory said the extreme weather was driven by subsiding airflow from Severe Typhoon Dolphin which made landfall earlier in the Japanese island of Okinawa.

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In the Philippines, Dolphin had the opposite effect, causing torrential rain that led to massive flooding in several parts of the country, including Metro Manila.

Hong Kong’s very hot weather condition is expected to last until midweek.