HK to cut quarantine exemptions, maintain strict anti-Covid-19 rules

By Daisy CL Mandap 

CE Lam with her right arm in a sling after a bad fall, talks to reporters 

Quarantine exemptions given by Hong Kong to various groups of people, including business executives, diplomats and airline crew will be whittled down, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced today, Oct 26.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Mrs Lam said the quarantine-free entry will be limited to those providing emergency services to people in Hong Kong, including cross-border truck drivers that deliver food to the city.

She said the move is being taken to speed up the reopening of the border with the Mainland, but did not mention any time frame.

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“At the beginning of last year, in relation to exempted groups of quarantine-free personnel, most of these will be removed,” she said.

“We will leave only those relating to emergency services or services relating to the everyday supplies and logistics of Hong Kong, for example, cross-boundary truck drivers…this is to give confidence to the central authorities that it is safe to open the border.”

The tightening of quarantine restrictions is just one way to further strengthen anti-pandemic measures so they are aligned with those in the Mainland, said Mrs Lam.

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Another step being taken is to require all those entering government premises to use the LeaveHomeSafe starting next month. Health authorities say this will strengthen contact tracing as many of those who opt to list down their personal details in lieu of using the app give false, or incomplete, information.

Mrs Lam makes it clear reopening borders with the Mainland is top priority

Mrs Lam made it clear that easing the quarantine restrictions for travelers from overseas take a backseat to the need to reopen the border with the Mainland.

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“If Hong Kong were to loosen the border controls for people arriving from overseas or adopt what other countries have done - so-called “to live with the Covid-19 virus”- then the chances of resuming travel with the Mainland will be reduced. This is a very simple hypothesis, and I can only say to those representing the financial sector that we have to look at it in context,” she said.

Hong Kong’s primary advantage, according to her, lies in being the gateway to Mainland China. If business people based in Hong Kong are not able to enter China freely, then it  will significantly reduce the city’s attraction as international business hub and an international financial centre, she said.

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Time spent under quarantine could only be shortened if the global situation stabilizes or if the confirmed number of cases in a particular country where the traveler comes from goes down, said Mrs Lam. However, the current Covid-19 situation is far from stable globally.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection reported three new imported cases today, involving arrivals from Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.

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The 65-year-old male patient from Singapore and the 29-year-old woman from UEA were both found to carry the L452R mutant strain on their arrival in Hong Kong on Oct. 24.

The variant test result for the 28-year-old woman from Pakistan who was found infected  on her third-day sample is still pending.

The three cases took Hong Kong’g total tally to 12,330.

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2 Nepalis and 1 Filipino plead guilty to $600k jewelry shop robbery

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The jewelry store after the robbery in March last year (still photo from TVB footage)

A Filipino and four Nepalese men entered differing pleas today, Oct. 25, to one count of robbery in connection with a daytime lightning robbery on a jewelry shop in Yuen Long in March last year that netted just over $600,000.

Filipino Mark Jordan Abella, and two of his accused - Raj Ghale, who was on a wheelchair - and Sanjan Gurung, all pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Peony Wong in Eastern Court. They will be sentenced at the High Court at a later date.

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The alleged mastermind of the robbery who went by the name “Tyson,” another man named “Kale” and an unnamed driver of the getaway vehicle remain scot-free.

According to the prosecution, the robbers struck at Tai Sun Jewellery & Gold Shop on the ground floor of Fu Ho Bldg, 3-7 Kau Yuk Road, Yuen Long at 11am on Mar 3, 2020.

Seven gold rings and 71 gold bracelets with a total value of $605,091 were taken by the suspects in the heist that lasted for only 1-2 minutes.

Many items of jewelry were left behind after the robbery that lasted no more than 2 minutes

Only shop workers were there when five men wearing masks and caps, including Ghale Sanjan and Abella, entered the shop. Some of the men were armed with hammers and axes while Abella held a knife.

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Abella announced the robbery and stood guard while the other men whom he identified later as Tyson, Kale, Ghale and Sanjan started smashing the glass cabinets, took the jewelry displays and put them in a black bag. He said he took three rings and put them in the bag.

CCTV footage showed the five getting off a car with license plate JN9585 before they entered the shop. Around 5:55pm, a passer-by saw a car without a number plate at Yau Pok Road, Tai Sang Wai, about 7 km away from the shop. He made a report to the police.

Officers arrived and found a knife, an ax, a hammer, three surgical masks, six plastic gloves, 16 labor gloves and some clothes inside the car. It was then confirmed that the get-away car was reported missing by its owner to the police on Feb 24, 2020.

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The car’s real registration number was VU 8036. The number plate JN9585 used on the get-away car was fake.

The CCTV also captured A. Gurung and the underaged suspect on the rooftop opposite the jewelry shop between 9:57am and 11:12am on the day of the robbery, the prosecution said.

After the robbery, A. Gurung and the under-aged suspect went shopping at Yoho Mall in Yuen Long as captured on CCTV. Police traced their route and checked the membership and credit card transaction records, leading to their identification.

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Ghale was arrested on Jul 29 last year after his fingerprint was lifted from inside a door of the getaway car. He initially denied his role, but admitted it in video-recorded interviews.

Sanjan was arrested on Aug 1, 2020. He admitted his role in the robbery but said he had not received any money.

Abella was arrested on Oct 1 last year. He was silent at first, but at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, he said, “I was involved in the robbery, I will tell you the truth.”

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In his video-recorded interviews, Abella said his friend Sanjan invited him to do a job in Yuen Long. When they reached Yuen Long station, Abella saw some people including Ghale, Kale and Tyson.

They boarded a grey vehicle driven by an unknown man and stopped in front of a shop. Abella said Sanjan, Ghale, Tyson and Kale rushed in and smashed the glass cabinets.

Abella said he was scared. He stood only inside the shop holding a knife that Tyson had given to him. They then returned to the vehicle. Abella said Tyson threatened him not to tell anyone about the robbery or his family members would be in danger. 

For his role, Abella said he received $10,000 from Sanjan as a reward.

Abella identified and confirmed that the five robbers captured on CCTV in the shop were himself, Sanjan, Ghale, Tyson and Kale.

Magistrate Wong said she was satisfied Abella, Ghale and Sanjan admitted their parts voluntarily. She remanded all the defendants in custody until the committal hearing.

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First day of FDH quarantine bookings at Rambler hotel a dud

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Rambler's booking page today showed no slots for a full 21-day stay

Some Filipino domestic helpers desperate to enter Hong Kong have complained about being unable to book rooms for their quarantine at Rambler Garden Hotel in Tsing Yi, which has been designated as the third quarantine facility for them starting Nov. 1.

Rambler was supposed to start accepting reservations from today, Oct. 25, but FDHs who swarmed the hotel website as soon as it opened were left disappointed because no 21-day stay could be booked.

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For FDHs coming in for the first time from high-risk places like the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Nepal and Thailand, the required number of days for quarantine is 21 days.

Rambler’s booking page indicates Nov 1 to 16 as open to guests, but subsequent dates were blocked off, preventing anyone from booking a full 21-day cycle. The same was true for the month of December.

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Subsequent attempts to book rooms at the hotel showed a clear November page, but once the chosen 21-day period is clicked, the website shows an error notification.

One frustrated worker said, “Nag open ang Rambler, only 14 days lang pala ang allowed na reservation. Nag-iisip ba ang Hong Kong government, e 21 days ang requirement nila sa quarantine?” (Rambler has opened, but only 14 days are allowed to be reserved. Is the Hong Kong government thinking properly, as it has required a 21-day quarantine?)

An irate FDH showed Rambler's booking page with no 21-day availability

As in previous weeks, trying to get one of the highly coveted 50 or more slots per day at Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre remains an arduous task. Within minutes after the slots are opened for a week-long cycle every Monday, the booking page on the website becomes unavailable.

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This is despite the government’s announcement on Saturday that the rooms allotted for FDHs at the quarantine centre were increased to 1,000 from the previous 800 starting on Friday.

Mina, who has been trying to secure rooms since September, said she and her employer have been unlucky with any of the designated quarantine facilities.

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Every Monday, when Penny’s Bay supposedly opens 350 or more rooms for the entire week, all the slots are gone within minutes.

She said they tried getting a room at Rambler today, were again unsuccessful. 

“Tagal ko na pong stranded dito sa Pilipinas, hanggang ngayon wala pa ding nakukuha na booking sa hotel. Pati sa bagong bukas na Rambler, failed ulit ang amo ko. Sobrang pahirap po sa amin ang pag book.” (I’ve been stranded in the Philippines for so long. Until now we can’t book with the hotels. Even with the newly opened Rambler hotel, my employer again failed to get a slot. This booking system has given us so much hardship).

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Rooms at Penny’s Bay are the cheapest, at $480 a night, making it the more desirable among the three facilities, but also the most difficult to book.

But even the 400-room Silka Tsuen Wan Hotel, the most expensive at $800 a night, was fully booked until next month as soon as it opened for reservations in September.

The government's announcement over the weekend said 500 rooms had been set aside at Rambler Garden Hotel for incoming FDHs at a cost of $650 a night, starting on Nov. 1. The hotel was supposed to start accepting bookings from 9:30am today.

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2 Filipina ex-DHs deny illegal sale of alcohol in ‘ale ale’ pub

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The pub where the 2 accused were arrested is located on this alley in Central

Two Filipinas who used to work as domestic helpers have pleaded not guilty to nine charges relating to their alleged illegal sale of alcoholic drinks, violation of anti-coronavirus regulations and breaching their visa conditions. They were arrested in March during a police raid in a pub on an alley in Central.

Jenivib A. Balanggao, 34, and Mary May C. Soriano, 38, both entered their pleas at the Eastern Magistracy today, Oct 25.

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Magistrate Daniel Tang adjourned the case until Dec 20 for a pre-trial review and extended the two defendants’ police bail.

Balanggao, a recognizance paper holder, and Soriano, a HKID holder with a visitor’s visa, were arrested during an operation by the Central Police District anti-triad team on Mar 12-13 at a pub in Room 203, 2/F Fai Man Bldg on Li Yuen St West, Central.

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The prosecutor said undercover officers checked on the evening of Mar 12 whether catering businesses in the narrow lanes popularly called by Filipino workers as “alley-alley” were complying with a government order to close down during specified periods.

They found the pub in Room 203 on the second floor of the building open and pretended to be customers. After a beer each and some food, the officers paid the bill and left.

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But they returned with a raiding team after midnight when the pub was still open with several customers, and arrested the two women.

Initial investigation showed the two were former domestic workers, with Balanggao later becoming a recognizance paper holder and Soriano, a visitor visa holder.

The 2 will face trial in Eastern Court

The prosecution told the court it will have 16 witnesses while the defense said they will have two additional witnesses aside from Balanggao and Soriano.

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Aside from denying their alleged illegal sale and possession of alcoholic drinks, Balanggao and Soriano also rejected allegations they violated Regulation 599F, which restricts the operating hours of certain businesses, and 599C, which restricts group gatherings.

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In addition, Balanggao was charged with operating a business without permission from Immigration, and Soriano, of taking up employment while on a visitor visa.

The defendants were ordered to return to court for the pre-trial review of their case. 

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2 Filipina DHs at Penny’s Bay among 4 new Covid-19 cases

By The SUN 

One of the Filipinas attended PDOS in Manila together with another helper found infected earlier

Two Filipina domestic helpers who were both spending their 21-day quarantine at Penny’s Bay are among four new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Hong Kong today, Oct 25.

Another patient is a 79-year-old woman who was staying at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental and had come from Denmark via Finland on Oct 21, taking AY101.

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Both helpers and the elderly woman tested positive for the L452R mutant strain of the virus.

The fourth patient is a 48-year-old male sea crew who came from Ukraine via the Netherlands on Oct 23 aboard KL 819. He tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival at Hong Kong Airport but was not detected  as having any mutant strain.

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One of the Filipinas, aged 52, flew in aboard CX 906 on Oct 20, and was said to be a close contact of another helper  found infected a day earlier, who arrived on the same day but took 5J272.

According to a staff member of the Health Department, the two Filipinas attended a pre-departure orientation seminar together in Manila before flying to Hong Kong.

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The other Filipina found infected today is 38 years old and came via PR 300 on Oct 21.

The new cases took Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally to 12,327.

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A total of 62 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (October 11 to 24) and all of them are imported cases.

The Centre for Health Protection reminded specified persons who were at Golden Glory Court in Shatin on designated dates that they must undergo another round of compulsory testing tomorrow, Oct. 26.

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The list of places under CTN with the corresponding deadlines for relevant persons may be accessed here: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf.

The DH has also been closely monitoring the mutant strains of Covid-19 and has uploaded the relevant information on Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs), based on whole genome sequencing results, to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/641/100135/6973.html). The data will be updated regularly.

For additional information on the government’s anti-pandemic measures, please go to www.coronavirus.gov.hk

 

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HK woman ‘taking selfies’ rescued after falling into ‘Little Hawaii’

By The SUN

Little Hawaii is surrounded by a lot of slippery slopes and boulders

A local Chinese woman was rescued at about 2pm today at “Little Hawaii Falls” in Tseung Kwan O after she fell into the water while apparently taking selfies.

Police who responded to a call for help after the woman went missing found her on a rock under the waterfall, then took her to Tseung Kwan O Hospital.

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“She was in conscious state when taken to the hospital,” said a spokesperson for the police.

She confirmed reports that the woman was apparently taking pictures of herself when she fell into the water.

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Friends of the victim called the police when they couldn’t find her after the fall.

The woman was able to walk to a waiting ambulance after being rescued (TheStandard photo)

The accident happened three months after a Nepalese woman drowned in the stream beside Tso Kung Waterfall in Tsuen Wan in mysterious circumstances.

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The Filipina friend of the victim raised the alarm on Jul 24 after the Nepali disappeared just minutes after they had played together in the water. The victim was declared dead on arrival at Yan Chai Hospital.

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In April 2019, a Filipina working as a call center agent also fell 15 meters down a waterfall in Tai Mo Shan Country Park while reportedly taking a selfie. Paramedics gave her first aid at the scene but was declared dead on arrival at Tuen Mun Hospital.

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All three waterfalls are popular among Filipina domestic workers who love to hike as they are easily accessible.

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