HKID Card Replacement Centers begin operation

The new ID card has enhanced security features, durability and chip technology.

Nine newly established Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres in Hong Kong have started operation.

The centers will be where all Hong Kong residents -- Hong Kong permanent residents, or residents for employment (including foreign domestic helper), investment or study -- will go to replace their cards under the territory-wide identity card replacement exercise.



The Immigration Department (ImmD) has begun replacing the smart Hong Kong identity cards (HKICs) of members of the Immigration Service, police officers and labor inspectors, allowing them to get familiar with the features of new smart HKICs for fighting against illegal immigration and illegal employment. 



Also, the Chief Executive, members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, and Principal Officials have an option to replace their existing smart HKICs at this phase so as to promote the new smart HKICs.



During the second phase, which is from January 21 to March 30, ImmD will arrange Hong Kong residents who were born in 1985 or 1986 to replace their existing smart HKICs. 



Afterwards, during the third phase, which is from April 1 to June 1 next year, Hong Kong residents who were born in 1968 or 1969 will be arranged to replace their smart HKICs. 

ImmD will announce the replacement exercise timetable for other age groups in due course.

The list of card replacement centers are listed here: http://www.smartid.gov.hk/en/Where-to-replace-identity-cards/index.html



The ImmD appeals to members of the public to use the website www.gov.hk/newicbooking, ImmD Mobile App, or 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234 for booking and encourages applicants to pre-fill the form via the Internet or ImmD Mobile App in order to further enhance the efficiency and convenience of the replacement process. 

For details of the new smart HKICs, members of the public may visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk.

For enquiries, contact ImmD by calling the enquiry hotline at 2824 6111, or email to enquiry@immd.gov.hk. 

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Holiday treats

In keeping with the season, we are sharing recipes for cakes and cupcakes which are sure to be a hit with people who fancy loading up on sugar as part of their Christmas and New Year celebrations.

As many foodies will say, there’s enough time the rest of the year to cut out all the fattening food that are served during the most festive of occasions, so we should use this most important dates in the Philippine calendar to indulge ourselves.

For this issue, two members of Domestic Workers Corner (It’s All About Food) share the secrets behind some of their popular sugary treats.

The first, Janice Medio, who is better known to her fellow DWC members as Admin Jazz, unloads the secret of her heavenly chocolate cake and (vinegar-laced) cupcakes.

Jazz, who has been in Hong Kong for 4 ½ years, says she first had culinary lessons when she was in high school. But she had an opportunity to hone this skill when she completed a course at the Hong Kong Culinary Arts Centre.

The second featured chef is Jasmine Crisostomo, who has been working in Hong Kong for the past six years. Jasmine describes herself as a wide reader, and has taught herself to bake and cook by reading Facebook posts and watching YouTube videos.

Steamed Moist Chocolate Cake
By Janice Medio

Mixture 1
2/3 cup caster sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup condensed milk
1 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
1 cup hot water (dilute 1 tbsp coffee granules)
2 eggs
*Combine all Mixture 1 ingredients*

Mixture 2
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Procedure:
1. Combine Mixtures 1 and 2 but don’t over-mix as this can cause dryness. Cover with aluminum foil.
2. Steam in boiling water over medium heat for 30-40 minutes

Ganache
100gms dark chocolate
2tbsp butter
1/4cup Nestle’s cream

Procedure:
1. Melt dark chocolate, then add butter and mix until smooth.
2. Add cream mix then pour over the cake and serve.

Santa Cake
By Jasmine Crisostomo

For the cake, use one box of Betty Crocker chocolate cake mix. Just follow the instructions at the back of the box on how to mix ingredients, then stick the mixture into the oven. When done, let the cake cool before frosting.
For the icing:
Ingredients:
2500 grams unsalted butter
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
red food coloring

Procedure:
1. Sift the powdered sugar.
2. Beat the butter with a hand mixer until it turns soft and pale in color
3. Mix the powdered sugar and beat some more.
4. Add vanilla
5. Halve the butter cream frosting and put a drop of food coloring

Chocolate Cupcakes
Mixture 1:
1  1/2cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
½ cup cocoa powder
½ cup sugar (or less, depending on how sweet you want it)
2  tsp coffee powder
(Mix, then strain twice. Set aside).

Mixture 2
1cup water
1/3 cup canola oil
1 egg
1 tsp vinegar*

Procedure:
1. Combine all Mixture 2 ingredients, then add all the ingredients in Mixture 2.
2. Preheat oven to 180 degrees, then bake the combined ingredients for about 15 minutes.
* Why do I add vinegar? It’s because it reacts more with the baking soda to make cake rise well

2 Pinay helpers claim being driven out of employer's Peak house in wee hours

By Vir B. Lumicao

Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai

A Filipina helper said she was forced out of her employer’s house on The Peak in the early hours of Jan. 6 after she refused to sign a resignation letter.

Jerlyn Tribajo, 28, said her employer, a certain Ms Lau, was angered by a complaint she had made to her Hong Kong agent about her irregular meal times and insufficient rest.

Tribajo also complained about the employer’s pet dog biting her hand last month. She claimed that instead of taking her to a doctor for anti-rabies shot, the employer only applied a cream to the wound.

Tribajo’s fellow Filipina maid, Tessa Bas, 29, was also allegedly driven away from the house when the
saw her with her suitcase ready.

According to Tribajo, Ms Lau  told her at 2am that day to write a resignation letter, but she refused, telling the employer to terminate her instead.

That allegedly angered the employer that she tried to yank Tribajo out of her bed, and out the room she shared with Bas.

Tribajo said the employer pulled her arms and tried to grab her cell phone, which hurt so much she screamed in pain. That prompted her employer to release her, which in turn gave her a chance to call the police.

When the officers arrived about half an hour later, the employer told the two helpers to leave the house.

The Filipinas said the police gave them a ride and dropped them off in Central. There, another helper saw them and hearing about their plight, took them to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai so they could file a complaint.

The next day they went to the Labour Department’s Labour Relations Division in Sheung Wan to report the employer and seek advice regarding their money claims.

A labour officer computed their money claim against their employer as follows: $7,638 comprising one month’s wage in lieu of notice and arrears in wages for Tribajo; and $7,600 for Bas. Both were also told to claim $1,700 each for air ticket.

The two Filipinas were advised to seek their agency’s help in getting the employer to pay up.  

On being told this, the agency called up the employer on Jan 7, but she reportedly said it is the workers who should be paying her a month’s wage in lieu of notice for allegedly walking out on their jobs. 

The helpers and their employer have been called to a conciliation meeting at the Labour Relations office on Jan 11 to try and work out a settlement.

Aside from the irregular meals and endless work, Tribajo, from Davao, and Bas, from Bukidnon, complained that Lau, who stayed at home, scolded and insulted them frequently.

They started working for Lau and her husband only on Nov 15.

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Labatt to hold more talks on mandatory health checks for FDHs

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre

By Daisy CL Mandap

Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre is set to consult Filipino community leaders on Jan. 20 on his plan to require pre-employment health checks for Filipino domestic helpers, in the wake of concern his initial advisory implementing the move could lead to confusion and problems for the workers.

Labatt dela Torre had originally set the start date of implementing the new rule on Feb. 15, but decided to hold further consultations because of concerns raised by affected parties, especially migrant leaders.

One of them, Eman Villanueva of Unifil-Migrante Hong Kong said the “fit to work” requirement in the original plan could lead to many longtime domestic workers losing their jobs if their employers are spooked by any abnormal readings in their medical tests.

He also expressed fear employment agencies would use this as a way to make extra money from either the worker or the employer.

In an advisory sent out to employment agencies and some migrant leaders on Jan. 8, Labatt dela Torre said the mandatory check-up would cover all Filipino household workers, whether new arrivals, re-contracts, or signing up with a new employer.

Apart from producing a “fit to work” certificate, all workers should also show proof that they have medical insurance coverage.

The advisory also said the basic pre-employment check-up covers “physical examination, chest x-ray, stool exam, urine exam, blood test (complete blood count, hepatitis B, sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine).”

But on being told of the workers’ concerns, Labatt dela Torre immediately put the advisory on hold.

“I have signed (another) advisory that the medical test requirement has been held in abeyance until further consultations have been done,” he said in a message.

He also said he had met separately with employment agency representatives and they agreed that the advisory needed some “fine-tuning”.

After the Filcom leaders meeting, set when he returns from a vacation and emergency leave, dela Torre said he would consult with the agencies again before finalizing his decision.

In his upcoming meeting with community leaders, the labor chief said he intends to ask if a “fit to work” certification should be required for the processing of contracts, and if yes, what is the extent of the medical tests that should be required.

Another issue is whether POLO should accredit medical clinics in Hong Kong for ease of compliance with the requirement.

The free HealthWise checks for OFWs showed 'disturbing' results

Labatt dela Torre decided to impose the mandatory checks after seeing “disturbing results” in the free HealthWise medical examination his office has been offering to all Filipino migrant workers since November last year.

The tests reportedly showed that of the first 1,441 workers who availed of the service, 14% were found to be pre-diabetic, while 7.63% were confirmed diabetics. This was said to be higher than the Philippine prevalence rate among adults of 6.2%.

The same tests showed 11.24% had elevated blood pressure levels and 17% were hypertensive. More disturbing, 2.5% had critical blood pressure levels, and they were advised to immediately seek treatment.

Initially, he asked the Hong Kong government to impose the mandatory medical check-ups for migrant workers, but when no response appeared forthcoming, he decided to go it alone.

Social media comments by Filipinos on his plan were overwhelmingly in favor, with many citing Singapore’s requirement of an annual medical check-up for all migrant workers a good example.

The Indonesian government is also cited for requiring proof of medical insurance coverage for each worker who applies for a new employment contract to be processed in Hong Kong.

But it would appear not many of those who supported Labatt’s move were prepared for the extensive tests he had in mind for them.


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Cricketers SCC Divas now also into volleyball

 Best Muse Ailien Cadangin Macaya get her trophy while SCC DIVAS Vice President Jennifer Alumbro receives the trophy for best uniform. 

By Vir B. Lumicao

SCC Divas, the only all-Filipina cricket team in Hong Kong, has branched out into volleyball and made its first foray into the competitive arena by joining the recently held LBC one-day league.

The team may have failed to win that competition, but still won for best muse and best uniform.



Josie Arimas, Divas team captain, said their joining the volleyball league came at the spur of the moment.

She said three of its players heard on Oct 28 that LBC was organizing a one-day league for the various Filipino volleyball teams in Hong Kong, just a week away.



“Let’s participate just for fun. We’ll use the Divas name, anyway we already have a numbered uniform,” Arimas said she told her players.

First, the Filipinas got permission from Divas manager Animesh Kulkarni to play volleyball using the team’s name and he agreed.



With just cricketers Jennifer Alumbro, Jackie Torete, Jona Eguid, Jessie Duque and Mae Oya who could play volleyball, Arimas said she had to import other Filipina volleybelles to join Team Divas.

The LBC league organizing committee announced there would be awards for the best uniform, best muse and best team, firing up the Divas’ enthusiasm.



Arimas said she scrambled to buy black shorts, as the cricketers wore long jogging pants, and find one key detail: a muse.

With only days to go before the Nov. 4 tournament, Arimas said she finally found someone who was willing to be the muse, an Ilongga named Aileen Macaya from Sham Tseng.



On the day of the league, the teams paraded with their muses before the matches got under way at Kowloon City Park.

The Divas lost their game in Bracket B, but did not go home empty-handed. Their inspired choice of outfit and muse helped made their day fun and fulfilling.


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