50k free air tickets, ‘cruise to nowhere’ offered to push vaccination

By The SUN

50K free air tickets will be raffled off to vaccinated residents

Get vaccinated, win one of free 50,000 air tickets on offer.

The Hong Kong Airport Authority made this pitch today to encourage the city’s residents to get vaccine jabs.

Cruise lines are also preparing to launch “cruises to nowhere” for Hong Kong residents by end-July at the earliest, with inoculation against Covid-19 a prerequisite for both passengers and crew before they could come aboard.

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Airport Authority chairman Jack So said the AA will raffle off 50,000 air tickets to vaccinated Hong Kong residents and 10,000 to airport employees.

He said the vaccination-tied ticket giveaway should give the aviation industry a needed shot in the arm, and encourage more people to take the jab.

“We hope that air traffic will resume as soon as possible. Vaccination of more people is an important part of the early recovery of the aviation industry,” he said.

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We have specifically allocated additional resources to encourage AA staff to vaccinate, hoping to take the lead,” So said.

He said to win one of the 50,000 air tickets on offer, a vaccinated Hong Kong resident must join the lucky draw by the end of September, when all 29 community vaccination centres are due to close.

The AA will also buy an additional 1,000 air tickets that it will give away in the form of a lottery to its employees who will have been vaccinated within the same period.

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But So did not specify the destinations of the free air tickets, or whether a resident could have just one of two vaccine doses to qualify for the lucky draw.

The AA said it is still finalizing details with the airlines.

Cruises to nowhere are expected to start by end of July

Meanwhile, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau said yesterday that cruise lines may resume “cruises to nowhere” (CTN), on condition that they strictly comply with health precautionary measures designed for such a travel.

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Resuming the short sea journeys that do not stop at any foreign port is meant to pave the way for the gradual resumption of cruise travel which has been for more than 15 months, Yau said.

“CTN itineraries underpinned by health control safeguards will offer an additional safe vacation option for the community as from the coming summer,” he added.

However, a health expert has warned that such cruises could spread the virus as it would be difficult to detect any infections on board during the short journeys planned.

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Dr Leung Chi-chiu said the short cruises would only be truly safe if the city achieves a high vaccination rate.

If any passengers catch Covid-19 on the ships they could easily spread the virus within the community if not enough residents here are vaccinated, Leung said.

The health precautionary measures that have been worked out with relevant bureaus and departments, as well as the cruise trade, include:  

• All incoming crew members must comply with prevailing quarantine and testing requirements for travelers entering Hong Kong;
• All crew members must be fully inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines recognized by health authorities before the start of a cruise journey, except for those not suitable to do so with valid medical proof. Non-local crews who have not been vaccinated before coming here may get free jabs in Hong Kong. But they have to be fully vaccinated before they can serve on a cruise journey.
• All fully vaccinated crew members are still required to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nucleic acid test shoreside and obtain a negative result every 14 days. Crew members who are not suitable for vaccination due to medical grounds must undergo a PCR nucleic acid test shoreside and obtain a negative result, as well as undergo every three days testing at on-board facilities and obtain a negative result;
• All passengers must be fully vaccinated, except for those not suitable to do so with medical proof or aged below 16, before a cruise journey begins;
• All passengers have to do a PCR nucleic acid test within 48 hours before boarding and obtain a negative result;
• Cruise lines are required to adopt a maximum 50% passenger capacity on a cruise ship, comply with the respective sets of hygiene, social distancing and contact tracing measures for various similar premises and facilities in force under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599F), and promulgate contact tracing mechanism for journeys; and 
• Passengers are required to use the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application to scan the QR code of the cruise ship before boarding. After boarding, they must also follow the social distancing and contact tracing mechanism executed by the cruise lines.
  
  

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No new Covid-19 cases as 12 patients with variant linked to Filipino DH

By Daisy CL Mandap 

It has been 7 months since HK recorded zero infection for the day

No new local or imported  case of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) was reported today, May 27, the first time this happened since October 14 last year, when a strong typhoon disrupted testing services across Hong Kong.

It comes five weeks after a flight ban was imposed on three countries where the most number of imported cases had been coming from in the past few months: India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

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However, the city is not out of the woods yet, as a total of 23 confirmed cases have been reported in the past 14 days, five of which were local cases with unknown sources, and one classified as possibly local.

One case recently reported as preliminary positive was today declared not a Covid-19 infection. The 61-year-old nurse who worked parttime at a vaccination center was found to have a strain of the Sinovac vaccine she helped administer, and not the coronavirus.

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Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection has linked 12 cases with the South African variant to a 28-year-old Filipino domestic helper (case no 11544) who had stayed at Ramada Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui at the same time as two other patients.

The CHP said genetic sequencing analysis of an Indian man who had flown in from Dubai (11643) and an Indonesian domestic helper (11550) showed they were both epidemiologically linked to the Filipino DH.

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All three had stayed at the Ramada Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on the same floor on  overlapping dates, bolstering the theory of virus transmission during hotel quarantine.

Experts who studied several cases of infections that were detected after the 21-day quarantine have said that environmental contamination could have occurred in the hotels’ narrow corridors or the S hooks used to hang food rations with.

The variant spread is now known to have started at Ramada Hotel in TST

The 28-year-old Filipino DH flew in aboard Cebu Pacific flight 5J 272 on Mar 25 and was found infected with the mutant variant on his 12^th day sample and confirmed as a positive case on Apr 8.

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Coincidentally, four Filipina DHs who took the same flight from Manila but stayed in different hotels for their quarantine were also found to carry the variant on the same day.

The 38-year-old Indonesian DH, on the other hand, arrived in Hong Kong from Jakarta on Mar 19. She was also found with the variant on Apr 8. Of four Indonesian DHs reported as Covid-19 positive that day, she was the only one found to carry the variant.

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The second linked case, the 29-year-old Indian man initially listed as the first local case of variant infection in Hong Kong, flew in on Mar 19 and ended his quarantine at Ramada Grand on Apr 8, when the two other patients tested positive.

After ending his quarantine, he moved in with his Filipina girlfriend in a flat in Jordan, and went around various places in Hong Kong until he was found infected on Apr 17 when he underwent testing prior to his return to Dubai.

The Indian man passed on the variant to his girlfriend (11672), and indirectly to three Filipina domestic helpers (11773, 11792 and 11793), the 10-month-old ward of one of the helpers (11774) and her employer (11797). 

Also infected were the girlfriend’s mother (11800), her elder brother (11815) the brother’s girlfriend (11816) and 4-month-old nephew (11825).

As a result of these findings, all cases linked to the index patient in the cluster (the Filipino DH) have now been classified as imported cases.

The CHP said in its statement that all investigations and contact tracing on other confirmed cases announced earlier are ongoing.

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Filipina DH jailed 10 weeks for stealing $13.5k from employer’s daughters

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The theft happened in the employer's house in posh Robinson Place in Mid-Levels

A 34-year-old Filipina domestic helper has been ordered jailed for 10 weeks after she admitted stealing $13,500 from her employers’ two daughters in their flat at 70 Robinson Road, Central.

Grace Alla, a mother of two girls, pleaded guilty to one count of theft when she appeared today, May 27, before Eastern Court Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong.

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Alla allegedly stole $2,000 belonging to the employers’ 17-year-old daughter and another $11,500 from their 16-year-old daughter between mid-March and May 3. The family, including a young son, lived in the flat with Alla, who they hired last October.

According to the prosecution, the elder sister put $2,000 in an unlocked safe in her bedroom drawer in mid-March and made sure of the amount. On Apr 17, her younger sister placed $12,480 in another unlocked safe in her bedroom drawer and checked the amount, too.

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No one entered the bedrooms during the period but the helper and their family members.

On May 3, the elder daughter discovered her $2,000 missing from the first safe, while her sister found out $11,500 of her money was gone. They reported the incident to their mother, who asked the helper.

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The defendant admitted she took the money and signed a letter of agreement with the victims’ mother that she took $13,000 from the two daughters.

The defendant was later fired and reported to the police on May 5. She was arrested and  during interrogation claimed that she stole only $8,000.

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The victims asked to be repaid but the defendant said she had no money.

The defense lawyer said the defendant came to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper in 2018. She is married, with her husband looking after their two young daughters in the Philippines.

The lawyer said Alla was remorseful.

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In sentencing, the magistrate told Alla her offense was a serious breach of trust.

Alla was the second Filipina helper to be sent to jail this week in Eastern Court for theft. On Tuesday, Jonavel Bilolo, 32, was jailed for 10 months after admitting she stole nearly $173,000 from her employer on Mount Davis, Western District, between Apr and May this year.

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Only 4 people may gather in public still as HK keeps social distancing rules

 By The SUN 

It's still 4 to a group until June 9

The government has announced that the social distancing measures currently in place, including allowing no more than four people to gather in public, will be kept for another 14 days, or until June 9.

The announcement came after only one imported case of Covid-19 infection was reported today, May 26, involving a 27-year-old woman who flew in from the United Arab Emirates on May 24 and tested positive at the airport.

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At the same time the Centre for Health Protection said it was investigating the case of a 51-year-old man who went to Shenzhen from Hong Kong on May 8, together with a 19-year-old female who tested positive on Friday.

The CHP said it was notified by the Guangdong health authority yesterday that the male patient was confirmed Covid-19 positive on May 23. He also tested positive for antibodies, indicating an old infection.

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The CHP said it was investigating the infections, and are doing contact tracing.

While the number of infections has gone down significantly in the past month, the government said it cannot relax gathering restrictions yet, as this could lead to a rebound in cases.

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It also said that the vaccine take-up rate in Hong Kong is still far below the level needed to achieve herd immunity so the city is still vulnerable to another surge in infections.

“If unfortunately, a new wave of the epidemic arrives, we will not be able to build a herd immunity barrier for protection,” said a statement from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

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“To guard against a rebound of the epidemic situation, the Government will continue to maintain the social distancing measures currently in place.”

However, the statement said that in considering the next phase of restrictions it will look into the need to offer further incentives to encourage vaccination.

Vaccination of both staff & customers will dictate how many patrons can eat together & how long

Under the extended social gathering rules, restaurants under category A will still be required to seat only two to a table if patrons are unvaccinated and do not sign up for contact tracing. They can only dine-in up to 6pm, and the restaurant can only be 50% full.

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For categories B to C,  the number of diners can go up to 4 or 6 to a table, and dine-in can be extended to between 10pm and 12 midnight. However there will be additional requirements for staff to get vaccinated, and for customers to use the LeaveHomeSafe app.

For the highest category D, up to eight diners can sit at one table until 2am, but they must have at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. All staff members should be fully vaccinated. The restaurant can accommodate as much as 75% of its permitted capacity.

Mask-wearing in public will still be strictly enforced.

Anyone found violating the restrictions, including holding or organizing prohibited group gatherings and failing to wear a mask in public, may be liable to pay a fixed penalty of $5k.

For more detailed information on the gathering restrictions, please click this link: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202105/26/P2021052600690.htm

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150 stranded OFWs share tales of woe as they finally fly to Manila

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Some of the 150 jubilant workers who flew home today

There were smiles all around when 150 Filipino migrant workers who had been stranded in Hong Kong due to repeated flight cancellations joined about 50 other passengers of a Philippine Airlines flight that left for Manila this morning.

Consulate officials led by Consul Paulo Saret, head of the assistance to nationals section, sent off the stranded workers who had mostly complained of having run out of money to pay for food, accommodation and rebooking fee while they waited for a flight home.

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Among them were 14 with medical conditions, including a cancer patient, three stroke victims, a worker who is three months’ pregnant, and others with various ailments like pneumonia, hypothyroidism and extreme lower back pain.

But even among those who were sick, relief was clearly written on their faces. Not surprisingly, because they, too, had to wait for weeks or even months for the chance to finally go home and be with their families again.

 Guerrero says her spirits lifted when she got to the airport for her flight home

Bernardita Guerrero, who was taken to the airport directly from Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai where she had been recovering from a stroke, said her spirit soared when she finally got to the airport.

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“Sumaya akong bigla,” (I suddenly felt a surge of joy) Guerrero said, who hardly looked sick despite being confined to a wheelchair and having to rely on staff of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to check her in for the flight.

The Filipina who had worked as a domestic helper for the same employer for the past 24 years, said she had wanted to go home as soon as she got the green light from her doctors. But her flight was canceled earlier this month, and the next available date given her was Jun 5.

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She was overjoyed when told she could join today’s flight.

Gilda B. Aludino, who suffers from acute myeloid leukemia or blood cancer, could not hide her smile, either, when asked how she felt about going home.

Although looking frail and gaunt, the helper said that after one round of chemotherapy all she wanted was to be with her family again.

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Aludino was accompanied to the airport by her employer and a small group of people who kept trying to cheer her up as officers of the Philippine Overseas Labour Office checked her in for the flight.

The employer even made her sister chat on video with the helper, who was then prodded to smile and pump up her puny fist while chanting, “I am strong.”

OWWA welfare officer Virsie Tamayao assured the employer that Aludino would be allowed to skip quarantine when she gets to Manila, and go straight to her hometown in Cagayan.

This family of 3 couldn't let go of a beloved member of their household

There were other heartwarming scenes of employers and their family members seeing off an obviously well-loved member of their household.

One local couple who anxiously gave last-minute instructions to their helper up until the departure gates, were obviously upset to let her go.

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The male employer later said the helper had been with them for more than 20 years.

Another couple, also local Chinese, saw off their helper along with their teenage son, and just before letting her go, posed for several last-minute photos with her.

The family, including the father, hugged the helper a couple of times before finally allowing her to go into the departure area.

Cortado can't hide her glee despite paying $800 for her excess baggage

April Cortado, who managed to get onto the priority list for the flight after her mother passed away, said she was also blessed to have employers who care about her welfare.

They did not release her from their contract, and promised to take her back after she’s said a final goodbye to her mother and comforted her three children who had been looked after by their grandmother and were grieving.

Her over solicitous employer packed Cortado's bags with so much chocolate and other food stuff for her quarantine that she ended up paying $800 for her overcharge. But the stiff penalty was not enough to dampen Cortado's excitement over her impending trip.

Also breathing a sigh of relief was Ginalyn Villaruz, who had anxiously pleaded with the Consulate to get her on the flight as she is three months pregnant, and only had three more days left in her visa.

Villaruz was worried that she may not be allowed to board a flight home anymore when she’s too far gone in her pregnancy. She was also worried about the cost of giving birth in Hong Kong, as she no longer has an employment visa that would entitle her to nearly free medical care in public hospitals.

The Villaruz couple (left) talk of how Ginalyn's return home meld with their future plans

Her husband Romeo, who saw her off at the airport, said he also wanted Ginalyn to go back home as soon as possible so she could relax more, and  look after their three growing children.

All those worries are now behind them, after Ginalyn happily relayed the news that as she was on the flight’s “priority list”, she was placed in the plush Sofitel hotel for her 10-day quarantine in Manila.

No less happy were most of the other passengers on the flight, as all that they had looked forward to in the past few weeks was to fly home and be freed of having to spend what’s left of their hard-earned money on food, lodging and other day-to-day expenses.

Joan Sabate said that in the three months that she was stuck in Hong Kong, she was forced to rebook her flight four times, and each time, was charged a rebooking fee of no less than $150. 

“Ubos ang naipon ko,” (I used up all my savings) said Sabate, who decided to quit her second contract after being diagnosed with a developing scoliosis and told to get a break from work.

She also lamented that while waiting for a confirmed flight, she had to stay in a cramped boarding house and go to several offices, including the Consulate, Immigration and PAL offices, when the cause of the repeated delays was not even made clear to her.

Despite all that, Sabate said: “Napakasaya ko dahil makikita ko na ang mga anak ko.” (I am so happy because I will finally see my children again).

Saret says that with another 150 workers leaving on Jun 1 the passenger backlog would have cleared

Consul Saret said it was also a relief to see off 150 more stranded workers.

He said the Consulate had asked Philippine authorities to give PAL 200 extra slots in its daily arrival quota but only 150 were approved, likely because “kino-control pa rin nila ang arrivals.” (The government is still controlling the number of arrivals)

But he said another 150 slots were given for the next specially arranged flights for the stranded workers next Tuesday, Jun 1. By then, he hopes everyone who has been waiting to board a flight home would have left Hong Kong.

Although 420 people had signed up with OWWA for the special flights, he said many appear to have left already after buying a ticket with another airline.

“Kahit itong 150 nahirapan kaming punuin kahapon,” he said. (Even with today’s 150 passengers we had difficulty filling the slots).

ALA Sunga (in red) helps a worker repack her overweight bag

He advised anyone whose flight has been cancelled by PAL to sign up with OWWA so they could be included in the Jun 1 flight.

He also reminded them to always ensure that they have a valid visa so they won’t encounter any problems when they finally fly home. Visa extension fees can be waived with the Consulate’s endorsement, he said.

Also at the airport to help ensure no last-minute hiccups would hold up the home-bound workers were Assistant Labor Attaches Tony Villafuerte and Angelica Sunga, Consul Bob Quintin, Social Welfare Attache Lucita Villanueva, and other officers of the Consulate.

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Filipina asylum seeker jailed 4 months for selling cannabis

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The defendant admitted selling cannabis (marijuana) at Kennedy Town MTR station

A Filipina torture claimant and former domestic helper was sentenced to four months in jail today, May 26, after she pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in March.

Dorina Miswara, 36, was arrested after she was put on the wanted list for selling a small bag of cannabis worth $2,100 to an undercover police officer at the MTR station in Kennedy Town on Mar 11, then disappeared for a few days.

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Miswara was found and arrested on Mar 22 by police officers who responded to a call about a dispute at the Fa Yuen St and Argyle St in Mong Kok.

When she appeared today before Magistrate Peter Law in Eastern Court, she was asked to plead to a charge of drug trafficking but not to a separate charge of overstaying, as her lawyer said she was awaiting the result of her application to stop deportation.

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The magistrate set down the hearing of the overstaying charge on Aug 26.

In mitigation, the defense lawyer said Miswara had worked for just one person who paid her $300 per delivery of drugs.

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But Magistrate Law did not accept this, saying investigators discovered in the defendant’s phone that she had made deliveries to a wide buyer network via the mobile app Telegram.

The defense counsel said her client came to Hong Kong last year to work as a domestic helper earning $4,630 a month. She was dismissed prematurely early this year but did not leave after her limit of stay lapsed on Mar 2.

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Miswara has three children, two of whom are teenaged girls, They are looked after by their grandmother, and everyone depended on the defendant for financial support.

She also cited Miswara’s guilty plea and the small amount of drug seized as she asked for a lenient sentence,

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Law, however, discounted her sentence only for her guilty plea, saying he saw no other reason to justify a further cut.

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