HK airlines raise fuel tax amid surge in global oil prices

 

The fuel surcharge will more than double for some flights out of HK

Hong Kong airlines have announced increases in fuel surcharges of up to 100% amid soaring oil prices due to the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

The first to make the move was Hong Kong Airlines, which raised the surcharge by up to 35.2% for tickets issued from March 12, Thursday.

The highest increase was for flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal, for which passengers will have to pay HK$384 instead of HK$284.

PINDUTIN DITO

Flag carrier Cathay Pacific, along with HK Express also announced higher fuel surcharges for all tickets issued from next Wednesday, Mar. 18.

Both airlines will be raising the charge by as much as 100%, or double the current rate.

Cathay will raise the surcharge for short-haul flights from HK$142 to HK$290; medium-haul flights from HK$264 to HK$541 and long-haul flights from HK$569 to HK$1,164.

Basahin ang detalye!

The airline said the adjustment is in line with standard mechanism, adding that it will continue to closely monitor trends in jet fuel prices.

HK Express, meanwhile, will raise the fuel surcharge for all flights from Hong Kong to all countries except China, from HK$140 to HK$290.

For flights to the China-Taiwan region, the surcharge will go up from between HK$140 and HK$159 to HK$288 and HK$298.

However, the surcharges for return flights to Hong Kong from the Philippines,J apan and Korea will remain unchanged- for now.

There has been no corresponding announcement from Philippines-based airlines, although the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced increases in the fuel surcharge for this month for both domestic and international flights.

For domestic flights, the surcharge will more than double- from Php201 to Php690; while for all international flights originating from the Philippines, the surcharge will go up to Php1,827 from HK$1,053.

 

Filipina DH set to plead not guilty to laundering more than HK$1m

 

The case is set to go to trial at Eastern Magistrates' Court 

A Filipina domestic helper is set to stand trial in May after denying a charge of laundering HK$1.08 million in her bank account.

But a formal plea by Ronnalyn B. Manalo, 33 years old, to one count of money laundering is due to take place on April 29 at Eastern Magistrates court.

Principal Magistrate David Cheung also reserved May 27 for the expected day-long trial after the plea-taking.

Manalo is charged that between April 10 and 22, 2024 she knowingly, or “had reason to believe” that the total sum of $1,086,434 in her Hang Seng bank account “in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence, dealt with the said property.”

Basahin ang detalye!

Put simply, it means that she is accused of having dealt with the money found in her account despite knowing it came from a criminal offence.

Manalo told the court through her lawyer that while she did open the account herself, she was unaware that it was used to launder tainted money as all the correspondence from the bank was sent to an address belonging to someone she didn’t know.

The prosecutor asked for the plea-taking to be adjourned as the transcript of the video-recorded interview by the police with Manalo was yet to be transcribed.

Magistrate Cheung agreed, and extended Manalo’s $5,000 bail until the next hearing.

 

Filipina jailed 20 months for stealing elderly employer's jewels worth $350k

 

Sentence was imposed at the District Court in Wan Chai

A Filipina who admitted stealing 42 pieces of gold jewelry worth more than $350,000 belonging to an elderly woman she was working for, was jailed for 20 months at the District Court yesterday, Mar 11.

Metchie Pinated Matute, 40 years old, had claimed she stole the valuables so she could help her family relocate to a safe place due to supposed “tribal wars” in her hometown in Kalinga province.

But according to District Judge Adriana Tse, financial hardship, no matter how serious, could not be accepted as a mitigation factor in thefts, unless in exceptional circumstances.

Basahin ang detalye!

Judge Tse said financial pressures, no matter how desperate or tragic the situation of the accused is, could not be used to mitigate an offence.

Besides, she said she doubted if Matute committed the thefts to help her family as she had claimed, noting that the accused also admitted being heavily indebted to loan sharks.

Matute was charged with stealing 7 bangles, one gold ornament, 4 gold necklaces with pendant, 14 rings, 3 gold ornament fragments, one watch and 13 gold wrist chains belonging to her elderly employer.

The thefts occurred between an unknown day in June 2024 and March 7, 2024 in a flat in Hong Kong House, Heng On Estate in Ma On Shan, New Territories.

The thefts were evidenced by pawnshop receipts found in the Filipina’s possession.

The judge used 30 months as starting point in sentencing, and after giving the mandatory discount of 1/3 for the guilty plea, came up with a final sentence of 20 months.

She refused to give any more discount for Matute’s clean record and supposed remorse as shown by her having admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity, saying the defendant was “guilty of dishonesty of a recurrent nature.”

Where criminal actions are repeatedly committed it is not right to describe the offender as having a clear record or remorseful, said the judge.

Neither does partial recovery of the stolen items serve to mitigate the offences because that only happened after the victim paid the pawnshop, she added.

The judge instead emphasized that the thefts were a serious breach of the employer’s trust as they were committed by someone who shared not only her house, but also her bedroom.

Police searching for FDH linked to HK$110k theft

 

The valuables were found missing from a flat in this estate (FB photo)

Hong Kong Police have confirmed that they are still looking for a foreign domestic worker, reported to be an Indonesian, in connection with the alleged disappearance of cash and jewelry worth more than HK$110,000 from the flat of a 74-year-old local woman.

Officers were called to a flat in Hong Ching House, Kai Ching estate in Kai Tak at 10:49pm on March 7 after the elderly woman discovered the items missing.

The woman surnamed Lam said she was missing gold jewelry worth about HK$59,000 and HK$57,000 in cash, and suspected they were stolen.

Basahin ang detalye!

The 39-year-old Indonesian domestic worker who shared the flat with her was also reported missing.

Police have classified the case as theft, and said they are still looking for the helper in connection with the case.

Pinay jailed 11 months for lying to Immigration officer

 

Visa application interview (Immigration Department file photo)

A Filipina was jailed for 11 months today after she pleaded guilty at Shatin Court to lying three times to an Immigration officer that she would be working as a domestic helper for a local employer.

Jane Recones, 38 years, was sentenced to seven months for the three counts of making a false representation to an Immigration officer lawfully acting under or in the execution of Part III of the Immigration Ordinance.

This was in violation of section 42(1) (a) of the Immigration Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

However, Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong ordered that only two months of the second and third sentences run consecutively to the first sentence, for a total of 11 months.

Recones was convicted after admitting that she lied when she told an Immigration officer, while applying for an extension of stay on Aug. 11, 2021, Aug. 11, 2022, and Aug. 7, 2025, that she would work for Lam Hang Kwong as a domestic helper.

Filipina DHs giving mani-pedi in Central arrested for illegal work

The arrested manicurists are taken to a waiting van on Edinburgh Place

Three Filipina domestic helpers and one tourist were rounded up last Sunday while allegedly providing manicure and pedicure services as well as massage, on the stairs leading to a footbridge that links Worldwide House and Exchange Square in Central.

According to police officers who spoke at a press conference, the four were among 20 persons arrested during a three-day crackdown on illegal work which targeted foreign domestic helpers.

Basahin ang detalye!

Seized from those arrested in Central were massage guns and lotions, nail polish and other manicure paraphernalia, and folding chairs.

The four were allegedly charging $50 for each service carried out inside tents or cardboard covers in what the police described as “very poor hygiene conditions.”

Seized from the FDHs in Central were massage guns, oil and manicure kits

The four were among 14 suspected illegal workers arrested during the operations carried out from March 8 to 10. Six other people who allegedly hired some of the workers were also arrested.

Also targeted during the crackdown were restaurants, retail shops, residential care homes for the elderly, guesthouses, industrial and commercial building units and public areas.

The suspected illegal workers comprised one man and 13 women, aged 28 to 50 years old.

Among them, 11 hold current FDH visas, one was a former FDH who had overstayed her visa, one was a visitor, and one was a holder of a recognizance form, which signifies an application for asylum.

A statement from the Immigration Department said the arrested workers were found performing massage, pedicure and dishwashing duties, or acting as kitchen assistants.

The six employers comprised one man and five women aged 30 to 60 years old. They were described as owners of persons-in-charge of the companies and restaurants involved.

Immigration said in a statement that an investigation is ongoing, and that the possibility of further arrests cannot be ruled out.

Anyone convicted of doing illegal work while on an FDH or tourist visa could be jailed for up to two years and fined a maximum of $50,000. If the offender is an overstayer or is on recognizance, the maximum jail term goes up to three years.

Employers of illegal workers face up to 10 years in prison and a fine not exceeding $500,000.

 

Warning issued against mercury-laden products

 

These products have high mercury content

The government has again warned against the use of three Goree whitening cream products, saying they contain excessive mercury that can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys.

Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, concentration difficulty, impaired hearing and vision, and changes in taste function. In severe cases, renal failure may occur.

Hong Kong Customs inspected a consignment declared as face cream arriving at Hong Kong International Airport from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, via Singapore to Hong Kong on August 27, 2025.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Upon inspection, a total of 2,880 boxes of the three types of regulated mercury-added whitening creams with an estimated market value of about $63,000 were detected and detained.

The case was handed over to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) for follow-up action.

The EPD sent the samples of the creams to the Government Laboratory for testing, and it was revealed that the mercury content in the three whitening cream products reached 24 000 parts per million, 25 000 ppm and 28 000 ppm respectively.

Basahin ang detalye!

According to the Mercury Control Ordinance (MCO) (Cap. 640), cosmetics with mercury content exceeding 1 ppm is regulated mercury-added products. The three types of whitening creams contravened the MCO. As a result, the EPD initiated prosecution against the related offenders.

In the past, the authorities have repeatedly warned against the use of the same brand of whitening cream, after a number of Filipina domestic helpers had to be taken to hospital in 2022 after showing signs of mercury poisoning.

Customs and the EPD remind members of the public that under the MCO, any person importing, exporting, manufacturing or supplying regulated mercury-added products commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.

The proprietor of the company that imported the batch of whitening creams was charged with importing regulated mercury-added products and was fined $10,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on March 2.

Customs and the EPD remind members of the public to observe the following tips when purchasing and using cosmetic products:

     • Do not buy or use cosmetic products of unknown composition or from doubtful sources;

     • Stop using the cosmetic products and seek medical attention immediately if feeling unwell after use; and

     • Purchase cosmetic products at reputable retail shops.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account: (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). Members of the public may report any suspected regulated mercury-added products to the EPD hotline (2838 3111).

Chinese employer acquitted of slapping her Pinay DH

 By Leo A. Deocadiz

Housing development where slapping incident took place (Google Maps photo)

A Chinese housewife was acquitted today of common assault on her domestic helper after a one-day trial at the Eastern Court.

Zhu Qiujing, 38 years old, was found not guilty by Deputy Magistrate Chung Wing-sze, who said she was not convinced by the testimony of Shirley Cahilig, 32, that she had been slapped on the left cheek and held on the chin.

Magistrate Chung, speaking in Cantonese, said she saw inconsistencies in Cahilig’s testimony that proved fatal to her claim of having been assaulted.

She also granted costs to defense, to be taxed if not agreed.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Zhu was charged with common assault on Cahilig on the June 8, 2025, at her flat in Island Garden, Chai Wan Road, Chai Wạn. She was accused of violating Common Law, punishable under section 40 of the Offence's against the Person Ordinance.

Cahilig testified that she arrived at Zhu’s house on March 5, 2025 to work as a domestic helper. The incident with her employer took place three months later.

Before ther slapping incident, she said, she had a harmonious relationship with Zhu, except for one time when Zhu scolded her for boiling chicken for dinner.

She said she told Zhu she did not want to work for her anymore. However, Zhu apologized and they made up.

Basahin ang detalye!

Cahilig said she was slapped by Zhu after accusing her of telling the latter’s two daughters about her smoking. But she said she did not volunteer this fact; the daughters knew she was smoking because she smelled of smoke.

She said she called the police hotline 999 twice and no one was picking up. She called the Mission for Migrant Workers, where a volunteer told her to dial 999 and say “Police Assistance”, which was answered right away. A policeman arrived at their house.

Cahilig toid the policeman she wanted to leave the house as she was afraid, but she was told by the employer she could leave only if she paid her $5,000, or one month’s notice.

After paying $5,000, she packed up her things and had thern inspected by Zhu.

She subsequently formalized her complaint with the police on June 15, and filed her claims with the Labour Department in August for wrongful termination, one month notice, refund of her $5,000, air fare and others.

Filipina driver in Central car crash jailed 27 months

 by The SUN

Magsino being taken to court for an earlier hearing (File)

“A momentary lapse in judgment” more than four years ago today led to a Filipina domestic worker being jailed for 27 months, at the end of her trial at the District Court in Tsuen Wan for dangerous driving causing death and multiple injuries.  

Reshielle L. Magsino, 48, was meted the sentence by Deputy District Judge Timothy Casewell, who called the incident that led the defendant to the dock “tragic and catastrophic” not just for the victims but also for her.

In addition to her prison term, Magsino was also barred from driving in Hong Kong for five years, a sentence that will, however, have no consequence on her as she will likely be deported back to the Philippines after getting out of jail.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

A week ago, Judge Casewell convicted Magsino of the two charges laid against her, one for dangerous driving that caused the death of one individual, and the second, for causing grievous bodily harm to four other people.

The case arose after Magsino failed to engage the brake on a car she had parked on a slope on Peel Street in Central on Dec. 10, 2021, causing it to roll downhill at a fast clip, then hitting a number of people outside a bar at the intersection with Staunton Street.

One of those hit was young French woman Elodie Ma, who died in the hospital 25 days after the crash. The others suffered various injuries including one of the witnesses, who sustained multiple fractures.

Prior to sentencing, Judge Casewell was told by the defense that all the civil claims that arose from the incident had been settled.

This car's dash cam showed the white car that Magsino had parked hitting people on the street

Despite the defendant not pleading guilty to the charges, the judge accepted that she had been remorseful and apart from this singular error in judgment, had an exemplary record, both for her work as a domestic helper since 2009, and her driving.

The judge noted that a number of people who had written to the court in support of Magsino, including her previous employers, had spoken highly of her and expressed deep appreciation for her work.

But the judge said he also had to consider as aggravating factor the fact that because of the defendant’s negligence a number of people had suffered injuries, and one of them had died from those injuries.

Basahin ang detalye!

The judge used as starting point in sentencing for the first charge a prison term of 33 months, and suspension of driver’s licence for five years. For the second offence, the starting point was 24 months in jail plus two years of disqualification from driving.

As the two charges arose from the same incident, he ordered that the sentences be served concurrently, and gave a six-month discount for the mitigating circumstances, resulting in a final sentence of 27 months and five-year disqualification from driving.

In court to give support to Magsino were her female employer and three Filipino friends who were told that an appeal against conviction and/or sentence could be lodged.

 

Pinay offers to help prosecute fixers who provide fake work contracts

The sentencing of a Filipina for three Immigration offenses has been put off at Shatin Court after she volunteered to help authorities prosecute fixers who provided her a fake employment contract that enabled her to get a domestic helper’s visa.

Anabelle Waguis, 37 years old, faces charges of breach of condition of stay, making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining an entry permit, and conspiracy to defraud.

Magistrate Raymond Wong adjourned the case to April 15 on the request of the prosecutor, who said Waguis would cooperate in the prosecution of “Kate” and others who were involved in her getting a fake employment visa.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

In the meantime, she was sent back to prison where her testimony will be taken.

Waguis was a domestic helper whose stay in Hong Kong was limited until Sept. 22, 2022, or two weeks after termination of contract.

However, she remained in Hong Kong between July 6, 2023 and Oct. 12, 2025, in violation of section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, according to the complaint by Immigration Department.

Basahin ang detalye!

She was also charged with violation of section 42(1) (c) of the Immigration Ordinance on Sept. 19, 2022 when she made a false statement that she was going to work for Ng Yuk Man as a domestic helper.

She did this “knowing the same to be false or not believing the same to be true, for the purpose of obtaining an entry permit, namely, an entry visa to Hong Kong to take up employment as a domestic helper,” the complaint stated.

The conspiracy to defraud charge arose after she conspired with a person named Kate in August 2022 to provide fake employent contract to the Director of Immigration and his officers stating that she will work for Ng Yuk Man as a domestic helper, resulting in a domestic helper’s visa being issued to her.

Her actions induced “the said Director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant you the permission to remain in Hong Kong as foreign domestic helper under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

This was contrary to Common Law and section 2(3) and 4(2) of Criminal Jurisdiction Ordinance, and punishable under section 159C(6) of Crimes Ordinance.

'Employers and agencies must pay higher verification fee, not OFWs'

 

Labatt Chavez and Congen Israel say OFWs should not be made to pay the verification fee

The Philippine Consulate General and the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong have sought to allay concerns of overseas Filipino workers over the hike in verification fee which went up by as much as four times in the case of contracts covering new arrivals, starting last Sunday, Mar. 1.

In a press briefing called earlier today, Tuesday, both Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. and Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, Jr. said the new fees announced only four days ago should have been implemented as early last year in line with a Joint Circular by the Departments of Migrant Workers, Budget and Management and The Bureau of Treasury.

Both officials said that despite the seemingly massive increase in the fee, only a few OFWs will be affected as those who are rehired or are returning to the same employer after a vacation (Balik Manggagawa), or move to another while still in Hong Kong, will still be covered by the current fee of HK$80 (or US$10 per the Joint Circular).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Only the new hires, or those coming to Hong Kong for the first time (or those who had previously worked here but had to go home to process a new work contract) will be subject to the new fee of HK$320, which amounts to four times the current fee of HK$80.

Congen Romulo said all these were relayed to a group of protesters from Migrante Hong Kong who picketed the Consulate building on Sunday to hit out at the new fees, calling them a form of “kotong” (extortion) by the Philippine government.

“We invited them to come up and we had a little dialogue,” said Congen Romulo.

Basahin ang detalye!

During their talk, the two officials assured the protesters that the higher fees will not be passed on to OFWs as it has always been the Philippine government’s mandate that all processing costs should be borne either by the employer or the recruitment agency.

“The employer must pay this fee, not the worker,” said the officials, adding that any OFW who is forced to pay the charge should report immediately to the MWO so appropriate action can be taken. 

Mendez calls for better protection instead of more exactions on OFWs

But according to Bayan HK’s Baneng Mendez, one of the protest organizers, OFWs who are in HK should not feel relieved by the assurance that only the new arrivals will be covered by the jacked-up fee.

“Kahit di tayo affected, mas lalo tayong dapat magalit kasi kapwa natin OFWs ang apektado. Hindi pa nga sila kumikita, ginagatasan na,” said Mendez in her speech during the picket.

(Even if we are not affected, we should be enraged even more because our fellow OFWs will be hit. Before they start earning money, they are already being milked dry).

It's also not true that the cost will not be passed on to the new hires because they know that if they don't pay up, they will not be able to leave the country, she said.

Mendez also rued the lack of prior notice or consultation, when Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac himself came to Hong Kong only recently, and did not mention anything about the fee increase.

She also said that OFWs should not keep quiet about the higher fees because if they do, the government will just continue extracting more money from them, while failing to provide enough assistance and benefits.

Protesters ask why Secretary Cacdac did not mention the fee increase during a recent visit to HK

Both officials explained to the protesters that the higher fee should have been collected as early as last year, after the Hong Kong government gave its consent. Before this, all other Philippine posts abroad (except in Taiwan where a different mechanism is in place) had already started implementing the new fee schedule, according to them.

Labatt Chavez said that when he took office in December last year, he immediately saw the oversight, and asked the head office for a deferment of the collection, as he knew he would be answerable to the government if the circular was not implemented. Failing to receive a response to this request, he decided to go ahead and announced the new fee.

Contrary to claims that no consultation was made with concerned parties, he said this would have been done a long time ago in the Philippines, though it would have involved the recruitment agencies primarily, as they would be the ones most affected by the increase.

Thus, the agencies, both in the Philippines and in Hong Kong, should have known about the increase long before it was announced here, he said.

Despite the uniform fee of HK$320 now being charged by MWO for verifying new employment contracts, he said this is still lower than the HK$390 that Indonesia charges for the same service.

But both officials said it was unfortunate that the fee hike had to be implemented at a time when Filipinos were still smarting from the massive corruption uncovered in flood control projects in the country,  making OFWs feel that the money lost from the anomaly is being unfairly passed on to them.

 

 

Pinay jailed 3 years for “laundering” $2.27M

 

A Filipina was jailed for three years after a trial at Fan Ling Court or two counts of money laundering, in which a total of $2.27 million flowed in and out of her two bank accounts in 2023 and 2024.

Jenebeth Abogador, 41 years old, received identical two-year sentences for each of the charges, but Magistrate Kenneth Chan ordered that one year of the second sentence be made to run at the same time as the first.

In addition, Magistrate Chan ordered Abogador to pay $1,630 as costs to the prosecution, to be taken from her bail.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Abogador was charged with 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.

In the first case, a total sum of $1,164,448.40 “in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence,” was deposited in her MOX Bank Limited account between Oct. 23, 2023 and Nov 26, 2023.

She handled the amount with a female known as "Reme" (also known as "Remi Marcos" or "Remie Marcos) and another male known as "Jay", the police complaint said.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the second case, a total sum of $1,111,968.16 was deposited and withdrawn from her account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between Oct. 23, 2023 and dec. 21, 2024.

She was also assisted by "Remie Marcos" and "Jay" in the transactions.