Religious venues to reopen, but only at half-capacity

By The SUN

Enforcing social distancing during mass will be a tough task for churches

Churches, temples, mosques and other places where religious events are held, are set to reopen after the latest gathering restrictions imposed by the Hong Kong government expire on Thursday, May 21.

However, the venues will be allowed to take in people at only half their capacity. No eating or drinking will be allowed, except for taking communion.

But except for religious gatherings, no more than eight people are still prohibited from getting together in public. The ban will be extended for a further two weeks, or until Jun 4.

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There was no immediate reaction from religious groups to the announcement by the officials made earlier today, May 19.

Fr. Jay Flandez, chaplain for the Filipino community, said the Catholic Diocese still has to issue a statement on whether masses will resume, and when. But he clarified that churches have remained open despite the cancellation of masses to avoid large gatherings.

In the meantime, he said his daily online mass which is live-streamed at 8am via the El Shaddai Facebook page (El Shaddai, DWXI-PPFI, Fellowship H.K. Chapter) will continue. 

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Religious venues have mostly stopped holding services at the advice of the government since Feb 15, three days after 15,000 new coronavirus cases were reported in China in a single day, along with 254 deaths.

Since then, many churches have been streaming live daily broadcasts of their masses held with only a handful of people in attendance.

15 public beaches will reopen this Saturday, with lifeguards keeping watch

In a further relaxation of restrictions, facilities run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department including 15 public beaches, 33 public swimming pools, and other sports facilities, will also reopen starting this Saturday.

Gyms, barbecue sites and campsites are still shut, but will be available for use soon, according to Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui.

Karaoke lounges, nightclubs, bathhouses and party rooms are to remain closed for one more week until May 28.

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This comes on the second consecutive day of no new Covid-19 infection being reported in the city, leaving the total tally steady at 1,055. More than 90% patients have been discharged after recovering, while the death toll remains at 4.

Last week, three local cases were reported after a respite of 22 days, sparking concern over a second wave of community transmission.

However, the close contacts of the three family members living in Tsuen Wan  have all tested negative for the virus, although further tests are being carried out in the two housing estates where they live.

“As seen from the recent local confirmed cases, the transmission chain in the community has not been completely broken off yet,” said Sophia Chan, secretary for Food and Health.

She added that authorities are adopting a “suppress and lift” strategy, meaning they will adjust anti-epidemic restrictions depending on the latest developments.

The most recent infections all involved residents returning from overseas, particularly Pakistan.

Health officials have warned the coronavirus may never go away, so people must remain cautious.

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Filipina DH now accused of stealing $9-M worth of jewelry from employers

By Vir B. Lumicao

Gold bars were among the items allegedly stolen by Nones from her employers

The value of jewelry allegedly stolen by a Filipina domestic helper from her employer has been raised to a staggering $9 million from $1million, as the hearing of the case resumed at Eastern Court today, May 19.

The prosecution said this was after more than 70 additional pieces of jewelry were added to the alleged loot by Carmelita Nones, who used to work for business executive David Liang and his wife.

Nones, who has been in custody since her arrest on Sept 4 last year, was in court for the hearing of what ranks as the biggest theft case ever brought against a foreign domestic worker in Hong Kong.

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Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai was told by the prosecution that the additional items consisted of gold and diamond necklaces, bracelets and gold bars belonging to Liang and his wife that had been recovered from five pawnshops.

Some of the jewelry pieces were pawned in the names of three other persons whom the defendant had allegedly asked to hock the items. The earlier items mentioned in the charge sheet were allegedly pawned by Nones herself.

Police have already taken statements from the three witnesses, who claimed they had no knowledge of the source of the jewelry, the prosecutor said.

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The prosecution said that because of the large amount of stolen jewelry, it would need six weeks to finalize the breakdown of the loot, decide on a trial venue, and seek further legal advice. 

The case is likely to be transferred to the Court of First Instance because of the big value of the jewelry allegedly stolen by Nones.

The case could be transferred to the High Court because of the large amount involved

However, Nones’ court-appointed counsel, barrister Mohammed Shah, objected to the adjournment, saying the prosecution had already asked for a postponement a number of times.

Chainrai replied that it was because additional items were found to be missing.

Shah also said he objected to how the prosecution panel handled the case in relation to the second witness, Liang’s wife.

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He noted that during the Nov 29 hearing, Nones tried to plead guilty to stealing various jewelry items from Liang and his wife, but a private lawyer for the couple arrived and said more theft charges could be filed against her. That prompted Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan to set aside Nones’ guilty plea. 

He also reminded Chainrai that on Mar 20, she adjourned the case for the prosecution to finalize the breakdown of the stolen properties, inquiries and legal advice.

“There were five previous hearings when the prosecution applied for adjournment. I hope this will be the last adjournment,” Shah said.

Chainrai adjourned the case until Jun 30 for plea, as well as finalization of legal advice and venue for the trial. She also ordered Nones remanded in custody.

Nones was initially charged with stealing two gold Piaget watches worth a total of $200,000 between Jul 27 and Aug 11 last year, following her arrest in the Liangs' luxury flat at 70 Deepwater Bay Road in Hong Kong Island South. 

Police later found five more stolen jewelry pieces in the pawnshop where Nones had allegedly hocked the watches, while four other missing items were reportedly found in her handbag.

She offered to plead guilty to a charge of theft, but the alleged discovery of more items led prosecution to ask for the case to be adjourned a couple of times.

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Infected OFW found after escaping quarantine

By The SUN

OFWs arriving at Manila airport undergo rapid testing before being sent to quarantine facilities 

The Philippine Coast Guard has announced that an overseas Filipino worker whose test result showed he was positive for Covid-19 after he escaped from a quarantine facility in Pasay City has been found.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said in a statement issued on May 18 that the 49-year-old OFW was sent to a treatment center and will be charged with violating quarantine rules after he recovers.

He also said the OFW’s family members and other people he was in contact with have been located and put under isolation, while being tested for the disease.

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The infected OFW was reportedly only on his fourth day in the quarantine center when he escaped.

Seven other OFWs who also escaped from the quarantine center but were found negative of the coronavirus, are still being sought.

Balilo said they will likewise be arrested and charged with breaking quarantine laws.

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The Coast Guard appealed to OFWs and their families to cooperate in the enforcement of the stringent protocols for repatriated workers, particularly the need for them to be tested and declared free of the virus before being allowed to go home.

“We know how much you want to be with your family. We know how hard it is to not be with them during this crisis but we need your cooperation to make this measure work,” Balilo said.

OFWs get a hearty welcome before being sent off for quarantine

Around 23,000 repatriated OFWs have been placed in quarantine centers after arriving in Manila. They were all subjected to rapid testing on arrival, but authorities later decided they must go through two rounds of swab tests as well.

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So far, only 7,000 test results have been released, according to the Coast Guard, which administered the tests, along with the Bureau of Quarantine.

As a result, most of the OFWs have been under quarantine for more than a month already, and are agitating to be released so they can go home to their families. They were told initially that they would be kept in the facilities for only 14 days.

As of Monday, the Philippines had recorded 12,718 Covid-19 cases. Of these,  2,729 have recovered, while 831 have died. 

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No new Covid-19 case, but distancing rules may be extended

By The SUN

Rule that allows up to 8 people to gather in public, may be extended for 2 more weeks

No new case of Covid-19 was reported today, so the Centre for Health Protection did not hold its usual afternoon press conference.

The total tally for Hong Kong remains at 1,056, after three cases, all involving residents who recently arrived from Pakistan, were reported yesterday.

However, since three local cases were reported last week involving an elderly couple and their granddaughter who all live in Tsuen Wan, officials appear inclined to exercise caution when deciding on whether to relax social distancing restrictions.

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Reports from both the South China Morning Post and RTHK say the government is set to extend the law banning the public gathering of more than eight people for two weeks, or until Jun 4.

The measure, which was a relaxation of the previous four-to-a-group rule, is set to expire this coming Thursday, May 21. Officials are expected to make the announcement as early as tomorrow, Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the source of the infection of the three recent local cases, remains unknown. All had no recent travel history, and hardly left their neighborhood.

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The first case to be reported was that of the 66-year-old grandmother, who went to a private clinic three days after feeling unwell. She was moved to a hospital after testing positive.

Her 5-year-old grandmother who had a slight cough, tested positive on the same day while under quarantine, was also taken to a hospital.

The woman’s 62-year-old husband was found infected the next day, also while under quarantine. Although asymptomatic, he was found to have a high viral load, meaning he was highly contagious.

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Health officials say it was likely that he infected his wife and granddaughter, but it’s not known how he got the virus in the first place.

Tests are being carried out on more than 1,000 people living in 850 flats in Lei Muk Shue Estate where the couple lives, as well as Cheuk Ming Building, where their granddaughter resides. Initial results yielded no new infection.

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Immigration warns, illegal work can get you jailed for 15 months

By The SUN

 

Migrant workers or tourists are not allowed to work in shops, restaurants & other business establishments

The Immigration Department has warned of the strict implementation of sentencing guidelines on illegal work in Hong Kong, after two overstaying Vietnamese nationals found working in a restaurant in Sheung Wan were each sentenced to 15 months in jail.

The two female illegal workers, aged 35 and 48, were sentenced at Shatin Magistrates Court on May 15 after pleading guilty to overstaying their visa and using false instruments.

They were arrested two days earlier during an anti-illegal worker operation conducted by Immigration investigators.

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Their employer was also arrested and is still being investigated.

At the same time, two local residents arrested after a raid in their restaurants in Tsuen Wan last year netted seven illegal workers, were also sentenced in the same court.

Each employer was sentenced to a total of two months and six weeks’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to four counts of hiring a person not lawfully employable.

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The employers and their illegal workers were arrested during a raid on their restaurants on Jul 8, 2019, as part of Immigration’s operation “Twilight.” The illegal workers they hired were jailed earlier.

A spokesman for Immigration has warned that illegal immigrants or people who are subject to a removal or deportation order (as in the case of overstayers) are prohibited from taking up any job or engaging in business. Offenders face a maximum fine of $50,000 and three years’ imprisonment.

However, the Court of Appeal has laid down a sentencing guideline of 15 months’ jail in such cases.

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Using or possessing a false instrument (such as a HKID card issued to another person or a altered or tampered passport) is an even more serious crime, with the maximum penalty set at 14 years’ imprisonment.

Employers of illegal workers face heftier penalties, with the maximum sentence prescribed as imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. An immediate custodial sentence has been ruled by the High Court in such cases.

According to the court, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer must also make further inquiries to ensure the lawful employability of the job applicant. Failure to do so will not be accepted as a defense in court proceedings.

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Not inspecting the job seeker’s HK ID card is also a serious crime, with the employer being liable to a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a year and a fine of $150,000.

As part of its operations, Immigration will also screen illegal workers, including those holding a foreign domestic worker’s visa, illegal immigrants, and sex workers, to determine if they are victims of human trafficking.

Anyone idenfitied as a trafficked victim will undergo debriefing by Immigration, which will also provide various forms of assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counseling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other support services.

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