$5,000 bail set for 2 jobless asylum seekers

 

The area where the arrests took place.

Two unemployed Filipinas holding recognizance forms that identify them as applicants for asylum, were each made to post $5,000 bail when they appeared at West Kowloon Court today, each charged with two offences. 

The two were jointly charged by police in a case filed on Sept. 26, just two days after they were arrested by police during a routine patrol on the corner of Po On Road and Heung Fat St. in Cheung Sha Wan on Sept. 24.

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Arlene Managtag, 36 years old, faces two theft charges – one for allegedly stealing one recognizance form in the name of Phakdee Jatupat, and another for allegedly stealing a mobile phone – in violation of the Theft Ordinance.

Conifer Akinchang, aged 44, was accused of failing to produce her proof of identity for inspection and possession of a dangerous drug.

 

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Akinchang's charge of failing to produce proof of identity when asked to do so by a police officer is said to be in violation of the Public Order Ordinance.

She was also charged with violation of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance after the policeman allegedly found a dangerous drug in her possession. The police complaint did not specify the kind of drug found on her, pending a laboratory analysis.

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Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui adjourned their case to Nov. 21.

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Latest anti-illegal work raids net 26 arrests

 

This is one of  the biggest number of arrests made by Immigration in recent months

A total of 26 people were arrested in the latest series of anti-illegal operations across the city conducted by the Immigration Department on Sept 30, Oct 2 and Oct 3.

Those arrested comprised 21 suspected illegal workers and five employers.

Operatives raided 50 locations across several districts, including a food factory, massage parlors, premises under renovation, restaurants and even residential buildings.

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The suspected illegal workers arrested comprised 14 men and  seven women, aged 24 to 62. Among them, three men were found to hold recognizance forms.

Two men and three women, aged 49 to 60, were arrested on suspicion of hiring the workers.

Immigration again warned in a statement that anyone found to have worked in violation of their visa condition, whether paid or unpaid, shall be guilty of an offence.

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This prohibition applies to visitors or foreign domestic helpers found to have worked with another employer, or for doing non-domestic work.

If found guilty of committing illegal work they can be imprisoned for up to two years and fined a maximum of $50,000.

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If the violator is an overstayer, illegal immigrant or recognizance paper holder, the maximum penalty is three years’ imprisonment and a fine of $50,000.

Employers could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $500,000. In addition, the High Court has laid out a sentencing guideline prescribing immediate custodial sentence for employers found guilty of hiring illegal workers. 

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First OFW Center set to open in Hong Kong

Congen Usudan says the Centre is a 'gift' to OFWs for their hard work

 Preparations are underway for the opening of the Filipino Workers Development and Social Centre (FWDSC) in Hong Kong, the first such facility to be set up abroad.

The news was announced during a ‘Leaders Forum” held on Sunday, Sept 29, at the Migrant Workers Office of the Consulate, and hosted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan spoke at the meeting, along with Labour Attache Mel Dizon. About 70 Filipino community leaders attended.

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According to OWWA welfare  officer Marilou Sumalinog, the FWDSC which measures 20,000 square feet, will occupy the entire 18^th floor of United Centre building in Admiralty, and will cost the government HK$611,000 (or Php4.43 million at current exchange rates) a month in rent.

 “Kasing laki ng Konsulado,” (It’s as big as the Consulate), Sumalinog said, in reference to the 14^th floor office in the same building, occupied and owned by the Philippine Consulate General.

WelOf Sumalinog assures Filcom leaders the Centre will not be funded from their OWWA fees

But she was quick to say in response to a question about the huge amount being spent on the place, that the money will be paid out of the General Appropriations Act, which sets out the budget for various government agencies, and not from members’ contribution.

She also assured the leaders that OWWA is committed to funding the center for five years, so they should not worry about it shutting down after just one or two years.

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 “Kung tataas man ang renta, hindi tataas ang singil ng membership,” she said (Even if the rent goes up, the membership fee will remain the same).

Consul General Usudan put it another way: “Ang center na ito ay regalo ng gobyerno sa inyo (this center is a gift by the government to you), in recognition of your hard work.

“Hindi mayaman ang gobyerno, (the government is not rich), but we want to give you something that is commensurate to what you have done for the country.”

One of  the rooms in the 18th floor unit which will soon be transformed into the OFW Centre

Sumalinog says no definite date has been set for the opening of the centre as it is still being refurbished. Luckily, she said the previous tenants (a law firm), designed the area so well using quality materials that all that needs to be done is to re-design the interiors to fit OWWA’s specifications.

When completed, the FWDSC will have a recreational area that can accommodate as many as 500 OFWs who can use the space to lounge around in while partaking of free coffee and sandwiches, singing, or playing games.

Sumalinog said this space will be similar to the OFW lounges that have been set up at Terminals 1 and 2 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which have been furnished to a high standard.

But in addition, the FWDSC will also have training and conference rooms, a computer hub, a clinic, gym, psycho-social unit, trading center, and a space that should be big enough where beauty pageants can be staged.

A separate holding area will also be set up for OFWs who want to rest and sleep amid soft music and the smell of scented candles.

But one of the top draws are the five offices that will be assigned to Filcom organizations. Sumalinog did not immediately name the lucky groups that will get to occupy these offices, saying guidelines are still being drawn up.

Prior bookings are necessary for the use of most facilities like the training rooms, but admission to the recreational area will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

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$100K bail set for DH facing $8.83M money laundering case

The accused allegedly laundered the money in three bank accounts

A domestic helper facing charges after her three bank accounts ended up being used in laundering $8.83 million in crime proceeds, was able to convince the Eastern Court today to allow her to post bail because her employer needs her badly.

Principal Magistrate Don So acceded to her appeal, but increased the cash needed from the $5,000 police bail to $100,000.

As a result, 39-year-old Lynie Acosta had to be detained in jail until her employer could raise the amount for her temporary freedom.

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Magistrate So also set the next hearing on Nov. 21 to check if the prosecution’s case is ready to be transferred to the District Court, since the amount involved exceeds the limit for cases that a magistrate court can handle.

Acosta’s lawyer had earlier appealed to So to allow her to post bail, citing her employer’s difficulty in taking care of her son and sick mother while keeping her own job.

The lawyer also said Acosta’s husband died recently, and she was desperate to continue working to pay off the hospital and burial bills, as well as supporting her children in the Philippines.

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Acosta is charged with three counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offense, in violation of section 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

The police complaint alleged that Acosta’s Mox Bank account received the biggest chunk of the funds, amounting to $8,597,833.36, between March 25 and May 19, 2023. She was accused of dealing with the property with the help of two persons, one named Jane Corpuz and another unknown.

The same persons were also cited as helping Acosta in dealing with $192,940.08 in her account with the Standard Chartered Bank, and with $45,100.78 in her account with with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, both on March 31, 2023.

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DH caught waitressing cleared in Immigration case

 

Place where Filipina was arrested (Google Maps photo).

A domestic helper who was arrested after serving food to undercover government officers in a restaurant, taking their payment, and giving their receipt and change, was acquitted today at Shatin Court after the prosecution failed to convince the magistrate that she violated the Immigration Ordinance.

Instead, Deputy Magistrate Tai Kwan-hang advised Jennifer Natal, 48 years old, to avoid doing what may cause people to suspect that she was doing illegal work.

With the ruling, Magistrate Tai cleared Natal of the breach of condition of stay charge filed last July 20 by the Immigration Department.

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Under section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, any person who contravenes a condition of stay is punishable by a fine of up to level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for two years. Among such conditions is working only for the employer approved by the Immigration Commissioner.

The case arose after a Department of Labor inspector and two police officers in civilian clothes dropped by a Filipino restaurant near Jordan Road in Kowloon last July 16, ordered food and were served by Natal.

Magistrate Tai said he gave full weight to the testimonies of the three prosecution witnesses who said they observed that she was familiar with the operations, such as operating the cash machine without supervision.

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After they paid and received their receipt and change from Natal, they arrested her.

While she clearly did work that was directly connected to the restaurant’s operation, Tai said, the prosecution failed to give evidence that Natal -- who had been working for the restaurant’s owner as a domestic helper for 10 years -- had a working relationship with the restaurant.

He noted, for example, that there was no direct evidence to show that duties were assigned to her.

Tai also noted that they observed her during the 39 minutes that they stayed in the restaurant. “If the observation was longer, the conclusion may have been different,” he added.

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Overseas Filipino voters in HK to get digital ID soon

 

Prototype of the digital voter's ID which will be sent to overseas voters via email

At long last, all Filipinos who have registered to vote overseas will be getting their identification card, which will now be issued to them in digital form.

The Commission on Elections in the Philippines stopped issuing the overseas voter’s ID in 2018, after legislators approved a bill establishing a National Identification System, which proposes only one ID for all government transactions.

However, due to the slow implementation of the National ID system and the introduction of internet voting by most Filipinos abroad for next year’s mid-term election, Comelec decided to resume the issuance of voter’s IDs, but this time in digital form.

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Voters will be sent a copy of their digital ID through email, which they must download and print by themselves.

Comelec said overseas voters may use the modern ID as an alternative proof of identification when they enroll for internet voting, in case their Philippine passport of seafarer’s identification record book is not available.

While the digital ID has been made available to many Filipino voters abroad since the start of the year, those who are in Hong Kong will have to wait awhile.

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Vice Consul Angelo Manuel, who is tasked with overseas voting here for the 2025 senatorial elections in the Philippines, said they are still awaiting further guidance from Comelec on the distribution, but said they hope to be able to do this soon.

Manuel said the final batch of IDs has yet to be sent by Comelec, which could be due to the sheer number of registered voters here.

After the two-year overseas voting registration ended on Monday, Manuel said they expect the final tally of registered voters to be between 90,000 to 95,000 - still the biggest for any single post abroad.

He said the Consulate will need help, even with just sending out the digital IDs to registered voters.

Manuel admits knowing about the great interest attached by Filipino voters to the ID since it is one of the perennial questions being asked of Consulate officers whenever they attend community events.

He advised voters to make sure they have easy access to the email address they will furnish Comelec as that is where their digital IDs will be sent.

The digital ID will come in handy when overseas voters are asked to take part in a pre-enrolment for internet voting. This would require the submission of personal identification and government-issued identification documents.

Comelec will use the Online Voting and Counting System for the first time in overseas voting, which will run from April 13 to May 12, 2025. Filipinos abroad will be able to vote for up to 12 senators and one party-list, whose representatives will sit at the House of Representatives if they get enough vote.

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353 Filipinos get flu jab on first day of MWO outreach

No long queues in the waiting area for the flu vax

A total of 353 doses of flu vaccines were administered at the Migrant Workers Office of the Philippine Consulate on Sunday, Sept. 29, the start of the annual public health service to Filipinos offered by the office as part of the Hong Kong government community outreach service.

A second session will be conducted tomorrow, and all the remaining Wednesdays of the month, from 9-12:30am.

The service will also be offered on all Sundays of October and November, from 9am to 3:30pm, and all Tuesdays starting on Oct. 8, from 9am to 12:30pm.

As in previous years, staff from private clinic Shoebill administer the shots.

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Although primarily targeting Filipino domestic workers, the vaccination service is also extended to residents who want to get the flu vaccine fast, as they need not make a prior booking.

The shots are administered on a first-come, first-served basis, at the MWO conference room on the 29^th floor of United Centre building in Admiralty.

Filipinos aged 50 and above as of the current year will get the vaccine free as it is subsidized by the Hong Kong government. Those who are below 50 years old and also asked to be jabbed at a cost of $220 per dose.

Assistant Labor Attache Angelica Sunga who oversees the project, said the cost of the vaccine for those below 50 years old should be covered by foreign domestic helper insurance.

ALA Angel says the cost of the vaccine is covered by FDH insurance

“Shoebill will provide a receipt that can be presented to the insurance company for reimbursement,” ALA Sunga said.

Sunga, who is a registered nurse in the Philippines, is encouraging all Filipinos, primarily migrant domestic workers, to get vaccinated ahead of the onset of the flu season so they get better protection.

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Seasonal influenza is a common respiratory tract infection caused by human seasonal influenza viruses. In Hong Kong it peaks from January to March/April and from July to August.

This year, experts said the flu season longer than usual, so residents, particularly those who are vulnerable like children and seniors, or those with pre-existing health condition, should get vaccinated  as soon as possible to avoid possible complications from the respiratory disease.

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Twin fundraisers held for Bethune House

 

Social Justice officers at start of "Amazing Walk for Bethune House'

Various migrant workers’ groups spent their National Day holiday today raising much-needed funds for the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.

This was in response to Bethune House’s recent appeal for help to meet its needs providing shelter and various forms of assistance for about two dozen clients.

Through its “Save our Shelter” (SOS) campaign, the 38-year-old Bethune House said it intended to raise about $1 million to pay for its expenses until the end of the year, after two funding grants failed to materialize as expected.

Antonio enjoins walkers to keep supporting Bethune House

Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio said the shelter was in danger of closing down as it had only enough money to cover its expenses for two months.

The shelter which was founded in September 1986, raises funds from private donors to provide food and shelter to distressed women primarily, but also for some incidental expenses like visa extension fees.

One of today’s activities was the final submission of cans for the year-long Coins for Bethune on Chater Road in Central, and the subsequent counting of donations held at Kowloon Union Church Space in Jordan.

Among those who showed up to turn over a coin-filled can to the organizers was Lester Esquilona, president of Sikap Association, a group composed mainly of domestic worker-drivers in Hong Kong.

Sikap's Lester Esquilona turns over a full can for 'Coins for Bethune' project

About 50 other volunteers joined the coin-counting, which has become a virtual tradition since the project was first conceived in 2011 by Filcom leaders Rosel Abrenica and Daisy CL Mandap, editor of The SUN.

According to Antonio, more than $33,000 was raised from the Coins project this year. This should go up some more, as a number of cans have yet to be submitted

The recurring fundraiser is usually closed for the year every September, to coincide with the anniversary of Bethune’s founding.

Also held today was the “Amazing Walk for Bethune House,” which was organized by Social Justice for Migrant Workers, one of the biggest online groups catering to the needs and concerns of Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

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The walk along the Peak Trail kicked off at about 10am, and was led by SJMW founder Marites Palma. Antonio showed up to personally thank the walkers and rally them to continue supporting Bethune House.

More than 40 workers belonging to various organizations took part in the walk, and donated at least $20 each for the cause. By the time the campaign ended at about noon, nearly $3,000 was raised for the shelter.

Palma said her group aimed to help Bethune House to remain standing, and to raise awareness within the migrant community about the invaluable help the shelter has provided for more than three decades.

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She thanked everyone who joined the walk and donated to the cause, saying what was raised would be a big help to the shelter which is struggling to keep afloat.

“Sana ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsuporta sa Bethune House dahil ang shelter na ito ang may pusong nagpapatuloy sa mga cancer warriors, mga biglang nawawalan ng trabaho, at mga may labor cases,” said Palma

(I hope we will all continue supporting Bethune House, which has the heart to provide shelter to cancer warriors, those who suddenly lose their jobs, or are involved in labor cases).

“Huwag po nating hayaang mawala ang Bethune House na syang nagsisilbing tahanan ng mga distressed workers sa loob ng mahigit 30 yrs.”

Palma (with sunglasses) lead the walkers along The Peak for the fundraiser

Let us not allow Bethune House to collapse, as it has served as a second home to distressed workers for more than 30 years.

Among the groups that joined the walk were Hong Kong Masikhay Eagles Club, Romblon Community of HK and Angat Pinknoy, with some unaligned individuals.

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Labour cancels job agency’s license to place DHs

 

The Labour Department (LD) has cancelled the license of an employment agency that places foregn domestic helpers, for violations of the law and the Code of Practice for employment agencies (EAs).

Labour announced the revocation of the EA license of JB Employment Agency (JB) in Kwun Tong – the first such cancellation for 2024 -- as it reminded EA operators that it was monitoring their compliance.

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The LD said it revoked JB Employment’s licence for failure to comply with the Code, including failing to draw up service agreements with employers during provision of services; failing to provide employers with receipts for service fees charged; failing to brief employers on the laws relevant to employment of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and their rights and obligations; failing to provide employers with guidebooks, leaflets, information pamphlets and sample forms on the rights and benefits of FDHs; and failing to ask employers to confirm in writing that they have received the signed originals of standard employment contracts.

 “Under section 53(1)(c)(iva) of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) (EO), the Commissioner for Labour (the Commissioner) may revoke the licence of an EA if she is satisfied that the licensee concerned has not complied with the Code,” LD said.

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 "The Code sets out the salient legal requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the standards which the Commissioner expects from EA,” LD said.

“The EO stipulates that the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a licence, or may revoke a licence, if she is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee of an EA, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO, such as overcharging job seekers or operating an EA without a licence, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," the LD said.

It advised those who want to ask about matters related to EAs or complain about suspected Code violations by agencies, to contact the Employment Agencies Administration (telephone: 2115 3667; email: ea-ee@labour.gov.hk; address: Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon).

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OV registration tally in HK expected to top 90k, despite absence of queues

 

Yesterday was the only day Filipinos were seen lining up to register for the 2025 overseas voting

The lure of being among the first to vote online for next year’s mid-term election in the Philippines failed to inspire more Filipinos in Hong Kong to rush and register as a voter, judging from the absence of queues in the lobby of Unite Centre building, where the Philippine Consulate is located.

The nearly two-year-long overseas voter registration ended today, September 30, with practically nobody trying to beat the deadline.

The only sizeable crowd was seen yesterday, the last Sunday of registration for the month-long overseas voting for the senatorial election which will be held from April 13 to May 12 next year.

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But fewer than 100 people queued up to go to the 14^th or 29^th floor of the building, where the registration had taken place since December 9, 2022.

This was in stark contrast to the hundreds, even thousands, who lined up for hours in the last days of registration for the 2022 presidential election, even amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vice Consul Jose Angelo Manuel, who overseas the overseas registration and voting, said the Consulate even extended its work hours to 5pm yesterday in anticipation of a last-minute rush, but no one came after the usual cut-off time of 4pm.

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But despite the lukewarm response, VC Manuel said the Consulate still expects the number of registered voters to hit “roughly between 90,000 and 95,000.”

He hastened to add that the final tally would still depend on the Commission of Elections in Manila, which has the sole authority to de-register voters who did not comply with requirements, or for failing to vote in the two last elections.

However, the figure is still close to the 93,265 people who registered to vote in the 2022 presidential election, for which there was a record turnout, despite the raging pandemic.

Vice Consul Manuel says the challenge now is how to steer 90k-odd voters through internet voting

Manuel said that based on previous trends, it is not likely that the turnout in next year’s vote would top that record, as mid-term elections do not attract as much interest as a presidential contest. Registration figures also reflect this.

There is also a tendency for Filipinos to hold off registering to vote until the last minute.

But some of those who queued up to register at the Consulate yesterday said they were only alerted about the looming deadline after reading about it in The SUN. They said they did not see any recent reminder from the Consulate about it.

Manuel said they never failed to remind Filipinos, either those who come by the Consulate for some services, or those they meet at community gatherings, to register if they have not done so yet.

“Kapag may pumupunta dito for some services, we would tell them, mag-register kayo. Pero sasabihin lang nila, next time na lang, busy ako. Tapos ayun nga, last minute magre register sila,” said Manuel.

(Whenever Filipinos could come here for services, we would tell them to register. But they would say they would just do it next time as they are busy. So now, many of them will register at the last minute).

The Consulate was virtually empty in the final hours of OV registration

With the registration period over, the Consulate’s attention will now shift to making sure there will be no hitches during next year’s landmark voting process. And the first step towards this is to work on the pre-registration of voters, which will be done over a month, coinciding with the actual overseas election.

Manuel said they expect this to pose real challenges, given the big number of registered voters in Hong Kong, the biggest in any city abroad.

There is also the need to inform voters thoroughly about the new method of voting. Relative to this, he said voters should have gadgets that are internet-capable and an email address they should have full control over, so they will not encounter any problems in casting their ballots.

Internet voting should be easy, he said, as voters can do it wherever they may be, as long as they have a steady internet connection. But for those who still want to be guided through the process, a number of voting kiosks will be set up, where they will be assisted by authorized people.

Manuel said the Comelec will do a run-through of the process between February and April next year, and he hopes some voters could participate and help iron out whatever kinks there may still be in the system. 

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