The SUN HK

A statement issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority tonight calls on the public to use various e-channels for giving lai see. Among the means suggested was the HKMA’s Faster Payment System available via online or mobile banking, or other e-wallet services.

The call is intended to reduce the chance of transmitting the coronavirus through the exchange of money or red packets, and avoiding the pre-CNY queues at banks for the crisp bills that are preferred for the cash-gifts.

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“During the CNY, major banks and electronic payment operators will introduce various programmes to promote electronic payment as a convenient and fun way of giving and receiving lai-see,” said the statement.

“This will also eliminate the hassle of exchanging new notes at bank branches, help safeguard public health and contribute to environmental protection.”

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But realizing that old habits die hard, the HKMA has at the same time consulted with the city’s three note-issuing banks on how to continue the practice of exchanging bills for lai see, while safeguarding public health.

“To meet the needs of these people and those without access to electronic payment channels (especially senior citizens), and at the same time safeguarding public health, banks will implement proactive measures to protect their customers and staff,” said the statement.

The HKMA also assured everyone that the stock of new notes this year is twice as big as in the previous year, while that for good-as-new notes is three times bigger. Thus, there is no need to rush to the banks to be among the first to get hold of the precious bills.

To ensure a safer distribution, the notes exchange service at banks will be extended from the previous two weeks to three weeks this year, meaning from Jan 26 to Feb 11, the eve of CNY.

In addition, the banks have undertaken to have an abundant supply of new notes everyday, allocate more counters for the notes exchange, and take measures to promote social distancing, such as managing queues and distributing tickets when needed.

Major banks will also provide online booking for notes exchange.

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Raids in Central, Lau Fau Shan net $520k worth of fake goods

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By The SUN

Customs show the $520k haul, said to be destined for hawkers in Central

Hong Kong customs officers have warned of stepped-up operations against sellers of counterfeit goods, as they seized a total of 2,300 pieces of such items, said to be worth $520,000.

The goods were seized from several mobile hawker stalls and a secret storage facility in Central on Sunday, Jan. 17. They included clothes, leather products including shoes and bags, as well as eyeglasses.

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Separately, officers raided a container depot in Lau Fau Shan, New Territories yesterday, Monday, and seized another batch of counterfeit good from two containers. The items were said to be intended for distribution to hawkers in Central.

A statement said one man and two women were arrested, aged between 25 and 42.

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Customs warned that it will step up its anti-piracy campaign ahead of the shopping season over the Lunar New Year.

In recent months, several cases involving the sale of counterfeit goods were brought to court, where some of the accused were Filipino domestic workers who were found hawking the items on sidewalks in Central.

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In its statement, Customs reminded the public to buy goods only at reputable shops, and to check with manufacturers if they doubt the authenticity of any items that they purchased.

Sellers were also reminded that they should only deal with genuine items as the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and stiff penalties, including imprisonment, may be imposed on offenders.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark may be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for a maximum of five years.

Those convicted of violating the Copyright Ordinance face a maximum sentence of $50,000 in fine and imprisonment for four years.

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Filipina DH held after CCTV shows her assaulting ward

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By Vir B. Lumicao

The accused was reportedly caught on camera with her hand on the boy's face and hair

A Filipina domestic helper is being investigated by police for common assault after her female employer in Homantin, Kowloon, reportedly saw the worker on CCTV hurting her 5-year-old son and called the police.

The helper called Ana Marie, 27, was arrested by responding officers from the Kowloon City Police Station shortly after the boy’s mother made the call at 9:31am on June 11, the police confirmed.

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The Filipina, who is single, was terminated by the boy’s mother as a result of the incident, the helper's friend said today.

A police spokeswoman said the alleged assault took place inside the employer’s flat. She said the case is under investigation but would not say if Ana Marie is in police custody or has been released on bail.

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The friend said Ana Marie’s family members in the Philippines got worried after learning about the arrest from another Filipina working for the employer who lives in Parc Regal and has three children.

The co-worker reportedly said Ana Marie was seen on CCTV with her hand on the boy's face and hair. But this other helper allegedly said no marks were found on the boy afterwards.

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Ana Marie’s contract is ending next month and she had already signed a renewal when the incident happened, the friend said.

Meanwhile, a Filipina helper who faces three counts of ill-treatment or neglect of her young ward, was not allowed to enter a plea at Kowloon City Court today after the magistrate found out that she was not represented by a lawyer.

The magistrate ordered defendant Celeste Villegas to go to the Duty Lawyer Service to apply for representation at the next hearing of her case.

Villegas’ bail was extended until her next court appearance on Feb 16.

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Mandatory Covid-19 tests to be imposed in ‘core zone’ as 56 new cases recorded

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By The SUN

CE Lam says testing will be compulsory for residents within a designated area in Yau Ma Tei

The government has ordered coronavirus tests for residents within what it called a “core zone” in Jordan and Yau Ma Tei, even if not a single positive case had been found in their buildings.

The measure was announced early today, Jan 19, by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, ahead of reports that 56 new Covid-19 cases had been recorded in the city in the past 24 hours, all but one of them locally acquired.

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The new cases included 31 recorded from the virus-plagued districts of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok (YauTsimMong).

"We will request residents living in buildings within this 'core zone' to undergo mandatory coronavirus tests. We will not wait until the first cases emerge at these buildings," Hong Kong’s top official said.

The designated area is bound by Pak Hoi Street, Temple Street, Ning Po Street and Reclamation Street.

The CE, who spoke before the weekly Executive Council meeting, also said mandatory testing will be extended to residents in a designated area in Sham Shui Po, as soon as one case was found in one of the buildings there.

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This area is bordered by Yen Chow Street, Tai Po Road, Maple Street and Lai Chi Kok Road.

Lam said the testing boost is aimed at finding infected people quickly to stop the transmission of the virus.

Dozens of buildings in the two targeted areas were said to have “poor environment” with no management whatsoever.

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At the same time, Lam announced that the strict social distancing measures currently in place, including a ban on restaurant dine-ins after 6pm, and a prohibition on the public gathering of more than two people, will be extended for at least another week.

Health officials in the daily press briefing on Covid-19 report 56 new cases

Meanwhile, health authorities reported that more than 60 preliminary cases had been identified, including about 30 from screening stations in Yau Tsim Mong.

Of the 56 new cases, only one was imported, involving a newly arrived foreign domestic worker from Indonesia.

Despite the drop in imported cases due largely to the new 21-day quarantine, authorities have decided to step up border controls further by banning flights from Brazil and Ireland, where more infectious variants of the virus were found recently.

The 55 local cases included 23 which were untraceable.

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Yesterday’s new month-long record of 107 cases sparked fears of a rebound in infections, but CE Lam was quick to allay the concerns.

“I understand people might find the recording of more than 100 cases worrying,” Lam said. “But the spike could have been triggered by the strengthening of compulsory testing.”

She also dismissed suggestions the spread of the virus in old tenement buildings in YauTsimMong was due to the predominantly East Asian make-up of residents there.

“There is absolutely no suggestion of the spread of disease relating to race or ethnicity,” Lam said. “If there is any misunderstanding arising from any remarks made by any officials, I made it absolutely clear here.”

She was referring to statements made by a health official Monday that members of ethnic groups in the area were engaging in behavior that put them at risk.

The new cases drove up the city’s total coronavirus tall to 9,720 with 164 related deaths.

The latest casualty was an 80-year-old woman who passed on in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital Monday night.

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Phl, Indo to hold more talks on response to boarding house probe

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By Vir B. Lumicao

The 2 consuls general plan a joint response to Ombudsman's probe (File)

The Philippine and Indonesian consulates general have agreed to hold further discussions to come up with recommendations to the Hong Kong government to address the issue of boarding houses for foreign domestic helpers.

Consul General Raly Tejada and his Indonesian counterpart, Ricky Suhendar, met at the PCG today, Jan 18, in response to Ombudsman Winnie Chiu’s inquiry into problems associated with mostly unlicensed boarding houses in Hong Kong.

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“Yes. Both Consulates General agreed to consult further with a view to sending recommendations to the Hong Kong Government,” ConGen Tejada said this evening.

He said the two consulates general should have their recommendations ready for submission to the host government “in two weeks’ time, perhaps.”

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ConGen Tejada would not give details of what he had discussed with the Indonesian consul general.

“Basically, there is convergence that ensuring the health and safety of our nationals are matters of utmost priority,” ConGen Tejada said.

Tejada says foremost concern is health & safety of migrant workers

Chiu announced last Thursday her office would probe problems associated with the boarding houses, such as overcrowding and poor hygiene.

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She said the government is duty-bound to ensure boarding houses are safe for both the helpers and the general public.

Among the measures that ConGen Tejada hopes the Hong Kong government will do is to open leisure and sports facilities to migrant workers and offer them opportunities for capacity-building activities to enhance their skills.

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These should be in the areas of housekeeping, caregiving, Cantonese language, financial literacy, etc, which the FDWs can engage in on their days off and while waiting for their visas.

The Philippines and Indonesia are the two biggest suppliers of FDHs to Hong Kong, accounting for 365,302 helpers between them, or roughly 98% of the city’s total migrant domestic worker population as of Dec 31 last year.

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