The SUN HK

HK residents born in 1968 or 1969 should apply for new smart ID cards

Posted on 05 April 2019 No comments

This is how the new ID will look.

If you were born in 1968 or 1969, it is now your turn to replace your HK identity card, the Immigration Department (ImmD) has announced.

You can do that from April 1 to June 1, 2019, at a Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre (SIDCC).

The SIDCCs will be open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8am to 10pm (except public holidays).

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The Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise covers all Hong Kong residents, who should apply for new smart identity cards in person at SIDCCs during their specified periods, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents taking up employment, investment, residence or study in HK. Employers of foreign domestic helpers should also arrange for their helpers to apply for the new identity cards during the latter's specified periods.

Eligible applicants may make appointment bookings via the Internet (www.gov.hk/newicbooking), the ImmD mobile application or the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2121 1234.

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The ImmD appeals to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointment bookings through the Internet or mobile application in order to enjoy a faster application process. Applicants need to bring along their existing smart identity cards when they proceed to SIDCCs.

For this replacement exercise, the ImmD is implementing a new caring arrangement under which eligible applicants may bring along up to two family members or friends aged 65 or above to replace their smart identity cards together during the visit.

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The above call-up period is only for Hong Kong residents born in 1968 or 1969. The ImmD will make announcements on the arrangements for other age groups in due course.

For Hong Kong residents born in 1985 or 1986, their specified period for identity card replacement will end on March 30, 2019. Those who have not applied for the new identity card should do so as early as possible in order to avoid a last-minute rush.

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If they are absent from Hong Kong during their call-up period, they can apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.

For details of the Identity Card Replacement Exercise, please visit the website www.smartid.gov.hk.

Smart Identity Card Replacement Centers:

1. Hong Kong Island Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Room 200, 2/F, Shui On Centre, 6-8 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

2. East Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Unit 1, 2/F, Manulife Financial Centre and Unit 1B, 3/F, Manulife Financial Centre, Tower A, 223-231 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong

3. West Kowloon Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: 12/F, Gala Place, 56 Dundas Street, Mong Kok

4. Tsuen Wan Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Shop: S201, 2/F, Smartland, 50 Texaco Road, Tsuen Wan

5. Sha Tin Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Shop G26, G/F and Shop 123, 1/F, Kings Wing Plaza 1, 3 On Kwan Street, Sha Tin

6. Sheung Shui Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: 7/F, Spot, 48 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui

7. Tuen Mun Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Shop L414B, Level 4, Leung King Plaza, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun

8. Yuen Long Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Shop 50, G/F, Manhattan Plaza, 23 Sai Ching Street, Yuen Long

9. Tseung Kwan O Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre: Shop 20-26, G/F, Corinthia by the Sea, 23 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung

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Are pageants truly empowering ofws in HK?

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By Angeline Bastawan

The Philippine Consulate in Hongkong recently issued a statement to stop organizers from conducting beauty pageants after photos of nearly naked ramping DHs circulating on social media caught the attention of concerned netizens.

This statement resulted to speculations, disputes and heated arguments between organizers and commenters, surveys, and even silent protests.

We can see however, that the trend is still going on despite strong opposition of the Philippine Consulate and some Women’s right advocates. As a matter of fact, there were more than five pageants already conducted within the first two weeks of January this year.

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The question on whether these pageants truly make a difference in one woman’s life remains to be answered.

To explain why these back to back events raised that question, we need to elaborate the factors involved in this matter.

Firstly, anyone, with or without a registered organization can conduct such event, be it a fun event, a ramp for a cause, or simply fundraising. They come up with many different titles which are not reflective of their theme, style and purposes. Only a few organizers understand the true essence of a beauty pageant.

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Some of the judges are OFWs alike whose only qualification is winning or joining a pageant, the organizers themselves, or sometimes friends of organizers who happen to be friends of the candidates as well.

There is no screening on the candidates. Anyone can join. Smokers and drunkards are no exception. Women, married or single with western boyfriends are the favorites.

In most cases, joining these pageants come with a price. Candidates rely on ticket selling, sponsorship, allowance cutting, or the worst, bank loans to finance their material needs for the contest.

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The most anticipated parts of every pageant which is the Q@A as well as the talent portion are being dropped off the categories for the fear of organizers to dissuade candidates from joining.

Some may ask why are these such a big issue when we are only OFWs and the events are just for limited audiences.

In this time where technology is at it0’s peak, nothing can escape the eyes of an observer.

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We probably have heard questions from spectators or we ourselves may ask; What will these women do after the pageant? Will it change their lives significantly? Does the title they are competing for reflect their moral characters? Do they portray the kind of women we believe as good examples? Do they inspire us? Do they serve as role models?

As history progresses, world pageants are no longer made to showcase just the physical attributes of women but also their talent, intelligence, and social contributions or awareness. These are also good as fundraising events. In fact one of the prestigious world pageants recently concluded raised millions of money for a Cancer Charity Mission and Educational programs for the less fortunate. In the Filipino community in HK, however, this becomes an income generating industry for many.

Winners are expected to become an ambassador of goodwill, therefore one must possess a charitable heart to begin with. They are also perceived as women of dignity and high moral standards. They become advocates of women empowerment instead of degradation and disgrace.

To our dismay, these expectations are not in the minds of some of the organizers. After and even during the events, some candidates can be seen smoking and drinking alcohol at the backstage or on the corners of the events ground. The organizers, the judges and the candidates will later on come together for a victory party and the highlights will be food, drinks and more drinks. Moral norms do not see this as a beautiful sight especially in events that’s claimed to be for charitable purposes.

The Philippine Consulate also do not have any concrete plan or move to check whether the claimed causes are real or just made up. One can easily run away with the funds because no external auditors are getting involved in this matter. As a personal opinion, we may as well adapt the policies in the Philippines concerning events organisation, because these women are
not to be used as a source of income for others while they gain nothing from it.

The aim to boost self confidence is in question. As we see more women believing that they are beautiful regardless of their size, height, skin color, and facial appearance, some of these women in the pageantry world will develop arrogance instead.

Winners only have the crown and title but not the promise that comes with it to withhold the duty of a beauty queen to become an inspiration and a role model. After the events, these women will go back to their own normal OFW life not with a single plan to carry out any social obligation to help the community because organizers fail to include their duties and the possibilities to recommend the winners to some institutions. They just wait for their time to turn the crown over to the next winner.

Some will end up in debt as they struggle to stay beautiful and acceptable in their newfound society, to the extent of setting aside their obligations for their family.

Women empowerment on the other hand generally means to positively influence others to develop their hidden talents, expand their knowledge and learn new skills, believe in their own beauty and uniqueness, enhance their personal traits and use all of these in an acceptable manner to improve their own lives and to contribute to the betterment of a community.

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This article was written by Angeline Bastawan, who aspires to become a regular contributor to The SUN. She is 38 years old and has been in HK for 10 years. Angeline studied Mass Communications at the University of the Cordilleras(formerly known as Baguio Colleges Foundation). She is now joining EmpowerU for knowledge enhancement.

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Caregiver?

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Sinabi ni Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong, sa isang interview ng South China Morning Post na hindi papayagan ang mga dayuhang domestic helper na magtrabaho sa mga tirahan ng matatanda, kahit na 18 sa bawa’t 100 posisyon sa industriya ay hindi mapunan ng mga lokal na manggagawa.

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Sagot niya ito sa isang reporter na gustong malaman ang motibo kung bakit nag-training ng DH ang gobyerno sa pag-aalaga ng matatanda.

May aasahan ka bang ibang sagot sa taning na ganito? Hindi talaga pinapayagan ang mga DH na gumawa ng trabahong ganito, maliban lang kung gusto ng HK government na lumabag sa sariling regulasyon nito. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga taong naparusahan dahil dito?

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Para lang sinabi ni Dr. Law na basa ang tubig, o kaya ay sa timog lumulubog ang araw.

Ang dapat usisain ay kung ano na ang gagawin ng HK government upang mapunan ang kakulangan, dahil dito tayo magkaka-ideya kung may puwang ba na pwedeng pasukin ng mga DH upang maiba ang kanilang kalagayan.

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Pinag-aralan ng Labour and Welfare Department ang sitwasyon sa sektor na nagbibigay kalinga sa mga matatanda, ay napag-alaman nito na kulang nang 18% ang tauhan nito. Ngayon ay pinag-aaralan kung ano ang gagawin upang masolusyunan ito.

Ilan sa mga posibleng maging alituntunin ay ang mga sumusunod:

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1. Pagpapaluwag ng mga kondisyon sa lag-angkat ng mga manggagawa mula sa ibang bansa. Isa na rito ang patakaran na dapat may katumbas na dalawang local na manggagawa ang isang elderly care center sa bawa’t mangagawa na aangkatin nila.

2. Pag-angkat ng mga manggagawa mula sa hanay ng mga dating nag-DH sa Hong Kong.

3. Ang pagbibigay ng pagsasanay sa mga DH na nasa Hong Kong na, sa pag-aalaga ng matatanda sa kanilang sariling tahanan. May mga ahensiya na nagsusulong na gawing hiwalay na kategorya ito ng manggagawa upang mabigyan sila ng proteksiyon (laban sa pagdaragdag ng pag-aalaga ng matanda sa kanilang gawain sa bahay) at mas mataas na sahod dahil espesyal na katangian at kaalaman ang kailangan sa trabahong ito.

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The SUN contributor wins fellowship

Posted on 04 April 2019 No comments

Leeh Ann Hidalgo and Marites Palma.

A longtime contributor to The SUN, Marites Palma, is one of two Filipinos accepted into the 2019 Social Justice Fellows of Resolve Foundation.

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The other is Leeh Ann Hidalgo, who like Marites (Tekla) is a domestic worker actively involved in many Filipino community events.
They joined 18 other fellows chosen from various fields, including students and human rights activists, to join workshops based on this year’s theme of “Ending Gender-Based Violence Together”.

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All 20 fellows were welcomed at Cafe 8 at Pier 8 in Central on Mar 21, where they mingled with the previous year’s fellows and shared their expectations from the Fellowship. Their first workshop is scheduled for Mar. 31.

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Resolve was founded in 2017 for the purpose of building more inclusive and accepting societies.

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It chooses community leaders as agents for social change in Hong Kong.
The 20 fellows are Ali, Ben, Circle, Harmony, Hina, Johnson, Joyce, Julian, Sun, Karen, Kristine, Leeh Ann, Ming, Sakshi, Saleena, Shadda, Shelley, Stephanie, Suski, Tekla and Wing.

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