Lan Kwai Fong ready for Halloween

 

Walls and streets in Lan Kwai Fong are lit up three nights a week with this colorful display

A new light art show depicting Halloween can now be viewed at Lan Kwai Fong in Central, in the first phase of beautification works in the area and streets nearby as announced in the 2025 Policy Address.

The light show, which was unveiled on Friday, Oct 23, transforms the stone wall on D’Aguilar Street and the nearby road surface into a stage for an interactive spatial and visual effects which are played on a loop once every 10 minutes. 

DETAILS HERE

The three-minute show runs from 7pm to 2am the next day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and is expected to draw in more visitors to the entertainment hub. 

Halloween-themed activities will be held in Lan Kwai Fong from October 24 to31. Residents and tourists visiting the area are encouraged to dress up in creative Halloween costumes while they enjoy the special art installations and dine in the various restaurants and bars lining the streets. 

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But Halloween is just the inaugural theme for the light art project, which will in future introduce other spectacles for different festivals and events, offering visitors a continuous stream of colorful visual treats. 

At the same time, the Lan Kwai Fong Association has commissioned the street art team, "All in One", to create a large-scale mural on the retaining wall adjacent to D'Aguilar Street. The 43-metre-long mural, which traces the transformation of Lan Kai Fong over the years, extends from D'Aguilar Street to Wing Wah Lane, and is expected to become a new photo spot in the area. 

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A QR code that will be added to the mural later may be scanned by visitors to learn more about Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s renowned round-the-clock entertainment hub.

Large-scale mural depicting Lan Kwai Fong's history

Halloween-themed activities will be held in Lan Kwai Fong from October 24 to31. Residents and tourists visiting the area are encouraged to dress up in creative Halloween costumes while they enjoy the special art installations and dine in the various restaurants and bars lining the streets.

A government statement said the completion of the first phase of the Lan Kwai Fong beautification project was a result of public-private collaboration between the Lan Kwai Fong Association in particular, and various government departments. 

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“By utilising their own resources and going the extra mile, the departments have demonstrated an exemplary team spirit to serve the goal of benefiting the public, tourists, and business,” said the statement.          

According to the government press release, the light art show and mural is just the initial step to “upgrade Lan Kwai Fong to version 2.0”. 

The initial phase also involves the resurfacing of the pavement and roads in the core area of Lan Kwai Fong with distinctive patterns. The second phase will cover nearby streets outside the core area of Lan Kwai Fong, including Wellington Street, Lyndhurst Terrace, and Pottinger Street. 

According to the preliminary plan, the second phase of the project which is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027 will incorporate more design elements, including enhancing the facilities on Wo On Lane and the Lok Hing Lane Sitting-out Area, which can serve as an open-air theater; improving signages within the area and enhancing synergy with Pottinger Street in attracting visitors.

Also in the works is the beautification of the Lan Kwai Fong Public Refuse Collection Point, located next to the Lan Kwai Fong Sitting-out Area along Lan Kwai Fong trail, to better integrate it with the surrounding urban design. . 

The Government launched the beautification project for Lan Kwai Fong and other parts of Central to enhance the environment and attract more visitors.

 

Consulate opens doors in renovated 14th floor premises

 

The PCG reception area: how will it look on Monday?

After 11 months of renovation, the Philippine Consulate General will reopen on Sunday (October 25) at the 14^th Floor of United Centre Building, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, offering all its services under one roof.

The 14^th floor premises will again provide the following services:

DETAILS HERE

• Passport Services
• Notarial and NBI Services
• Civil Registry and Citizenship Services
• Assistance to Nationals Services (for non-OFWs)
• Visa Services for Foreign Nationals
• Overseas Voters Registration
• PagIBIG Fund Services
• Social Security System (SSS) Services

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The Consulate premises were closed on November 16 last year, and services were transferred to the OFW Global Centre on the 18th floor of United Centre or the 29th floor of the same building, which houses the Migrant Workers Office, and an additional office on the 26^th floor.

With the reopening of the Consulate, the 29th Floor, which houses the Migrant Workers Office, will revert to handling labor- related concerns such as contract verification/overseas employment certificate (oec) and assistance to workers.

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The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will continue providing services at the OFW Global Center on the 18th floor.

It was the first time that the office occupying the entire floor of the building underwent a facelift since the PCG began occupying it in the early 2000s, after entering into a lease-purchase agreement with the vendor-landlord.

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For details, contact the PCG main line at 2823 8500/ 8501 or its hotline: 9155 4023.

 

Phl peso sinks to new record low of 63.61 to USD

OFWs get more pesos for their dollars now

The Philippine peso has continued its free-fall, plunging to a fresh record low of ₱63.615 to the US dollar today, Friday, marking its 31st record low of the year. 

The peso closed 9.5 centavos down from Thursday’s close of Php63.52 to the greenback.

DETAILS HERE

The local currency hit an intra-day  low of  Php63.62 to US$1 during the day.

The currency’s continuing decline, off 7% of its value since the start of the year, makes it one of the weakest in the region.

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The escalating tension in the Middle East and the consequent rise in fuel prices has driven up the country’s import and fuel bills. 

The decision by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.50% while lifting its inflation forecast has also dampened investor confidence.

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Analysts warn that the psychological ₱64:$1 barrier  could be tested in the coming days or weeks if investors continue to keep away. 

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said that the central bank is not intervening just to defend a specific exchange rate floor, but is focusing instead on curbing excessive volatility that fuels inflation.

Excessive debts may affect FDHs’ chances of getting visas or extensions of stay

 

File photo from HK Monetary Authority

Excessive debts will affect the Immigration Department (ImmD) decision on whether to approve a foreign domestic helper’s employment visa or extension of stay, according to Joseph Chan, Undersecretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

Chanwas replying to questions by lawmaker Elaine Chik at the Legislative Council on Wednesday (October 21). He had consulted the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Companies Registry (CR), and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA),

“The Immigration Department (ImmD) has all along exercised stringent control when vetting employment visa applications from FDHs, by holistically considering multiple factors, including conduct and integrity, records provided by previous employers concerning the FDHs, and reasons for premature termination of employment contracts, etc,” he said.

DETAILS HERE

“Previous FDH employers may provide the ImmD with reasons for premature contract termination, including excessive borrowing, for consideration by the ImmD when processing future applications for employment visas or extensions of stay from the FDHs concerned,” he added.

This is one of the measures adopted by the Hong Kong government, with various policy bureaus and departments collaborating at different levels, to address the rising incidence of excessive personal borrowing.

“Following our public consultation, starting from August this year, we have imposed restrictions on unsecured personal loans granted by money lenders to low-income earners, including restrictions of income, debt servicing ratio, total outstanding loan amount and repayment period. We have also prohibited money lenders from requesting borrowers to provide loan referees,” he said.

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The Labour Department (LD) also strictly regulates employment agencies (EAs), Chan said.

“The Code of Practice for Employment Agencies (CoP) promulgated by the LD stipulates that EAs should not provide job seekers with information relating to personal loans, and should not advise, arrange, encourage or force job seekers to borrow money from any institutions within or outside Hong Kong. EAs violating the CoP may have their licences revoked or their applications for licence renewal refused,” he added.

If organizations elsewhere are found to have engaged in malpractices in arranging FDHs to take up employment in Hong Kong (such as improperly coercing FDHs into taking out loans), LD will seek action from the consulates-general of countries where the FDHs come from, he said.

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“We acknowledge that publicity and education can contain problems at source,” Chan said. The LD thus collaborates with the these consulates to include information on avoiding excessive borrowing into orientation briefings organised for newly arrived FDHs.

Filipinos asked to register marriage, birth & death

The Philippine Consulate has reminded Filipinos to report their marriage solemnized in Hong Kong, to keep Philippine civil records accurate and up-to-date.

The advisory covers all Filipino citizens who get married in Hong Kong, whether to a fellow Filipino or a foreign national. 

Their marriage must be reported and registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority through the Consulate.

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Filipinos are also advised to report other vital events such as births and deaths so they may easily obtain PSA-issued documents which may be later required for important transactions such as passport and visa applications, pension claims and others. 

For more information please send an email to the Consulate’s Civil Registry and Citizenship Services Unit at hongkongpcg.civil registry@dfa.gov.ph.

The requirements for registering births, deaths or marriage may check the attached advisories:

Jewelry theft lands Pinay in jail for 16 months

Eastern Court

A Filipina was jailed today for 14 months after she pleaded guilty to the theft of jewelry from her former employer. 

Raquelyn Aguacito, who has since been terminated, had earlier been charged with violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance. 

Aguacito admitted to have stolen seven gold coins, one gold bracelet, six gold pendants and one memory card, the property of Tsang Ching. 

The theft took place between February 26 and May 5 this year.

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The sentence handed down by Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak was net of the one-third discount for the guilty plea. 

The case is one of four cases heard in Hong Kong courts today. 

At Kwun Tong Court,  Rogela Caalem, 33 years old, was remanded in jail on a charge of stealing 19 pieces of jewelry, valued at a total of $1, 608,300, the property of Mao Sara Guo Jing.

The theft allegedly took place between January 1 and the 26th day of June 26 this year at the employer’s house at Fei Ngo Shan Road, Tseung Kwan O. 

At Eastern Court, Rona Jean Lagat, 33 years old, had no bail application in her bail review, so she was returned to jail. Her case had previously been adjourned to December 9. 

Lagat is accused of stealing 80,000 yen (about: HK$4,000), two gold bracelets, one green gemstone ring, oné sapphire necklace, one Cartier watch, one pair of diamond earrings and one gold necklace, the property of Wong Shin Ling Irene. 

The theft allegedly took place between June 15 and October 12 this year at the employer’s residence ar Fullview Court, Fortress Garden, 32 Fortress Hill Road, North Point. 

At Fan Ling Court, Cristy Mae Falales, 30 years old, was released on bail of $2,000 when her case was adjourned to December 17. 

She is accused of stealing a memory card, two packs of fish maw, seven cans of abalone, a $100 commemorative banknote, two pieces of $20 commemorative banknotes and 16 boxes of probiotics, total value at HK$19,740, the property of female Poon Wun Hei, Alina.

The theft allegedly took place at the employer’s residence at Elegant Park, Ngau Tam Mei Road, Lok Ma Chau, New Territories

between June 21 and 30 this year.  

Foreign carers will be trained, assessed in their home country, says HK Iabour chief

E

Sun says FDHs must go home and train first

Hong Kong Labour Minister Chris Sun has all but dashed hopes of currently employed foreign domestic helpers to move into better-paid posts as foreign domestic carers (FDCs) starting next year, without having to return to their home countries.

Speaking at a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Labour Minister Chris Sun made it clear that FDHs working in Hong Kong will first be required to return to their place of origin to undergo a dedicated training course, before coming back to work again as FDCs with new employers.

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Sun made the statement in response to a question by legislator Elizabeth Quat on what steps have been taken by the government to ensure that the planned hiring of FDCs will not “deal a blow to the existing FDH market, given the higher salary that will be given to the carers.”

Sun checking out Phl’s training for caregivers in 2023

Earlier, Sun had announced that FDCs to be hired under a Pilot Scheme to be implemented starting middle of next year, will be paid 10 to 20 percent more than FDHs whose minimum salary is pegged at HK$5,200 a month.

Sun assured that the Government does not expect the Pilot Scheme to disrupt the existing FDH market, despite the disparity in salary.

The labour chief said that apart from requiring the FDCs to undergo training in their home country, they will also be assessed there by a local institution commissioned by the HK government based on a specified assessment framework, and obtain a passing result before they may come to Hong Kong for employment.

“Considering that FDCs will be required to possess a higher level of experience than ordinary FDHs, the minimum wage for FDCs will be set slightly higher than the MAW (minimum allowable wage) for FDHs," said Sun.

To further minimize the impact on the FDH market, the Pilot Scheme will be  implemented on a small scale initially, with only a few hundred FDCs being hired per year.

He assured that the public sentiment will be taken into consideration in working out the details for the scheme which will be set out by the middle of next year.

The Chief Executive announced the Pilot Scheme in his Policy Address this year, in response to Hong Kong's rapidly ageing population. 

From nearly 1.8 million (or one-fourth of the population), the number of HK residents aged 65 and above is expected to rise to 2.74 million in 2046, or a third of the population.

Another Pinay jailed 6 months for money laundering

 

Kowloon City Courthouse

Another Filipina domestic helper enmeshed in money laundering through her bank account, was jailed for six months today at Kowloon City Court.

Magistrate Andrew Mok cut by one third the initial sentence of nine months he handed to Mariel Frio, 40 years old, who pleaded guilty to dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Frio was charged with money laundering after the inflow and withdrawal of HK$237,140 and US$2,975, in her bank account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between December 20, 2024 and July 28, 2025.

The charge fled by  the HK Police Technology and Financial Crime Unit sad Frio allowed the use of her nank account, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that property…, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence.”

 

DH jailed 2 years for theft of watches, jewelry worth more than $1M

 

District Court

A 51-year-old domestic helper was jailed for two years today by the District Court after pleading guilty to theft, originally of two Rolex watches but eventually of a number of watches and jewelry worth a total of more than $1 million.

Deputy District Judge Dick Lee sentenced Jeanny Llarenas at a starting point of three years, but gave her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.

When the case was first heard up at Fanling Court on Dec. 12, 2025, Llarenas was originally accused of stealing two Rolex watches with a total value of $500,000 on an unknown date between June 1 and Oct 15 this year at her employer’s  house in Deerhill Bay on Tai Po Road - Tai Po Kau, Tai Po.

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The police filed a second charge in which two Rolex watches and a Citizen watch worth a total  of $510,000 were stolen between of March 26  and Oct. 15 last year.

The two charges were consolidated when it reached the District Court, to state that she stole five watches, worth $1,010,000    

Discovery of more thefts -- two gold pendants, 3 necklaces, one pair of earrings and two bracelets, the total value of which was not disclosed -- added to the list of items stolen in the corrected period between August 25 and October 15 last year.

First batch of 34 OFWs repatriated from Saudi amid rising tensions

 

Secretary Cacdac and other DMW officials
greet the returning OFWs

The first batch of of overseas Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia to be repatriated arrived on Monday, October 19, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The 34 returning OFWs were met at the airport by officials from the Department of Migrant Workers led by Secretary Hans Cacdac.

A second batch of 65 OFWs are due to be flown in Tuesday, October 20.

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A statement from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) said the OFWs arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR934 from Doha, Qatar, after traveling from Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

They were assisted at the airport by DMW and OWWA staff, and provided transportation and temporary accommodation.

Those with onward travel to their respective provinces were given help in booking their flights.

The same assistance will be given to the next batch of returnees.

“In times of need, it is important that we act quickly and carefully, as we understand the concerns of our OFWs and the families waiting for their return,” OWWA said in the statement. 

According to the DMW, nearly 400 OFWs have applied for repatriation as the situation in the region remains volatile.

So far,  399 OFWs from Saudi Arabia are scheduled to return to the Philippines between October 19 and 25.

In addition, travel arrangements are already being finalized for over 100 OFWs more, said the DMW.

While awaiting their flights, the OFWs are being provided with food,  accommodation, transportation, financial assistance, and medical and psychological services.