T3 raised, may be followed by T8 tonight

By The SUN

 

The Observatory's graphic tracks Ma-On's movement as it heads towards Guangdong 

The Observatory issued Standby Strong Wind Signal No.3 at 12:40pm today, Wednesday, and said the signal may be raised to T8 between 6pm and 9pm tonight as Severe Tropical Storm Ma-on moves closer to Hong Kong.

At noon, Ma-on was centred about 440km southeast of Hong Kong, and is forecast to move toward the coast of western Guangdong.

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The Observatory said the weather will gradually worsen later today. However, the typhoon will come closest to Hong Kong only tomorrow morning, when it may skirt within about 200km south-southwest of the territory, posing considerable threat.

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Ma-on is forecast to have maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers an hour when it makes landfall early tomorrow.

The Observatory warned of possible rough to high seas and swells, and urged the public to take precautions against strong winds and flooding.

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Fishing boats and other small sea vessels have been advised not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels have been alerted against big waves.

The severe tropical storm, called Florita in the Philippines, left the country’s “area of responsibility” at past 9am today, but continued to bring associated heavy rains and strong winds in the Ilocos Region, Abra and Benguet.

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Damage to property has been moderate, despite the government’s order to shut down all offices and schools in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces yesterday and today.

Latest reports from the country said about 1,344 families, or some 4,600 individuals have been displaced by the typhoon from 60 barangays in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions.

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But the national disaster relief agency has yet to give an estimate of the damage wrought by the typhoon to crops and infrastructure.

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Health code monitoring stepped up as Covid-19 cases inch up anew

By The SUN

 

Those with red or yellow code will be fined up to $10k if they enter restaurants

The government said Tuesday that it has stepped up monitoring the activities of people with a red code or amber (yellow) code to ensure they conform to the restrictions imposed on them.

The statement was made as the daily Covid-19 tally rose slightly to 6,654, including 244 imported cases.

Under the new health code system those with a red code are prohibited from leaving their house or any place of isolation, while those with a yellow code are allowed to work or attend school but may not enter high-risk places including restaurants.

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Inbound travelers are given the yellow code after they complete their three-day hotel quarantine during which they test negative for Covid-19, and are subject to medical surveillance for a further four days.

In a separate statement, the government said inbound travelers with an amber code will be allowed to participate in business-to-business (B2B) conventions and exhibitions subject to specified requirements.

Such activity will be considered as similar to peforming duties at work, and does not fall under the prohibition on mass gatherings.

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The government said in its statement that those who violate the restrictions are liable to pay a maximum fine of $10,000, which they could discharge immediately by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000.

Also liable to prosecution and penalty are operators of catering premises who fail to prohibit such restricted persons from entering their premises. The maximum penalty for such violation is a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The health code system in the Vaccine Pass was introduced two weeks ago but business establishments were given time to make adjustments, including updating their QR code verification scanner mobile app to the latest version, and ensuring their devices remain  connected to the Internet.

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Meanwhile, health officials say the number of hospital beds reserved for Covid patients has been increased to 5,000 amid the continuing rise in infections.

More than ten of today’s new cases were admitted to the AsiaWorld-Expo treatment facility, and more are expected to be moved there shortly.

A total of 2,139 patients are now being treated in hospitals, with about 80% of them aged 60 and above. Among them, 43 are in critical condition, including 11 in intensive care; while 37 are in serious condition.

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Ten more Covid-related deaths were reported, comprising six males and four females aged 69 to 105 years old. They took the death toll from the fifth wave to 9,407.

Four of the fatalities did not have any vaccination while two received three doses of a vaccine. The rest either had one or two shots.

Of the 244 imported cases, 125 were detected on arrival at the airport, 46 during the three-day hotel quarantine, and 55 during the medical surveillance period from Day 4-7. A further 18 were found after Day 7, but most were likely re-positive cases.

The infected patients came from 48 different countries, and those with more than positive cases are: United States, 32; India, 27; Thailand, 20; United Kingdom and the Philippines 18 each; Canada, 15; Singapore, 12; and South Korea, 11.

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Pinoy nakipag-ayos sa halagang $60k matapos masisante

Umuwing wagi ang Pilipino matapos pumayag magbayad ang dating employer ng $60,000.

Isang Pilipino ang nakakubra ng $60,000 sa kanyang dating employer matapos siyang i-terminate sa trabaho niyang pag-aayos ng mga bakal (o reinforcing bars) para sa isang gusaling itinatayo sa Chek Lap Kok Airport.

Pumayag na si Reagan Tabalanza sa alok ng dalawang kumpanyang inihabla niya sa Labour Tribunal – Build King-Able Joint Venture at ang labor sub-contractor nitong Po Hing (Hing Yip) Engineering Co.Ltd. -- kahit nabawasan ng higit sa 1/3 ang kabuuang $96,921.01 na kanyang unang hinahabol.

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Nagkaayos ang dalawang panig matapos itigil muna ni Deputy Presiding Officer Vivian Lee ang pagdinig at hayaan silang mag-usap sa labas. Nang bumalik sila sa pagdinig pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, handa na silang magpirmahan ng kasunduan sa harap ni Lee.

Ang una sa listahan ng hinahabol ni Tabalanza ay ang 11.5 na araw na hindi siya binayaran, sa suweldong $1,500 bawa’t araw na batay sa kontratang pinirmahan nila, o $17,250.

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Dahil ang talagang bayad sa kanya ay $1,250 imbes na ang naka-kontratang $1,500, hiningi rin niya ang balanse sa walong buwan niyang pagtatrabaho o $36,171.01.

Dahil pinatigil siyang bigla sa trabaho, hiningi niya ang $27,000 bilang kabayaran sa 18 araw na karaniwan niyang pagpasok sa isang buwan, bilang kabayaran sa isang buwang abiso.

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Hiningi din niya ang pitong araw na bakasyon o $10,500 at holiday pay na $6,000

Ayon kay Tabalaza, may mga hindi daw siya naisama sa reklamo na gusto niya rin sanang habulin, gaya ng palaging naantalang pagbabayad ng suweldo, ang hindi binayarang MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund), 7 araw na “injury leave” at pagbabalik ng $50 na kinukubra mula sa kanya ng foreman sa bawa’t araw na pinagtrabaho siya.

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Ipinagpaliban ni Lee ang usapan tungkol dito, lalo na sa $50 na kinukubra ng foreman dahil mukhang may panunuhol na nangyari, na kailangan ng isang hiwalay na imbestigasyong kriminal.

Nang tanungin ni Lee ang kinatawan ng dalawang kumpanya kung ano ang masasabi nila sa hinihingi ni Tabalanza, sinabi nila na handa na silang bayaran siya noon pa, pero nagreklamo ito sa Labour Department kaya naantala ang proseso.

Ang hiningi lang nila ay ang pagtakda ng suweldo ni Tabalanza sa $1,250 dahil ito na ang nakagawian, kahit na ang nakasulat sa kontrata – sa salitang Intsik – ay $1,500.

Pinapili ni Lee si Tabalanza kung ipipilit niya ang kanyang hinihingi, o bukas siya sa pakikipag-usap upang makuha na ang mga hinahabol niya.

Nang matapos ang usapan, pumayag na si Tabalanza sa kabuuang $60,000 para sa lahat ng hinahabol niya. Ang Build King-Able Joint Venture ay magbabayad ng $14,375 at ang Po Hing (Hing Yip) Engineering Co. Ltd. ay $45,625.

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2 Filipinas, 3 Indons among 11 people arrested in anti-illegal work raids

By The SUN

 

Nine of those arrested were women, 5 of them foreign passport holders

Two Filipinas – one of them with a Hong Kong ID card, and the other, a Philippine passport – were among 11 people arrested last night in Kowloon City in raids jointly conducted by the police and the Labour and Immigration Departments.

Also arrested were three Indonesian women, all HKID card holders, in the raids at various locations in the district, including prostitution houses.

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The six others were made up of two men and three women from the mainland, and one local woman.

All 11 people arrested, said to be 27 and 50 years old, are still being held for questioning, said a police spokeswoman. Some have been referred to relevant departments for follow-up.

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The spokeswoman said she did not have an information on whether charges would be laid against the suspects.

A press release from the Hong Kong Police said those arrested were being held on various charges, from overstaying, failure to carry identity documents, breach of conditions of stay, management of a vice establishment and assisting in running such an establishment.

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“Some of them are wanted persons,” said the press statement, which did not give specifics.

The spokeswoman said they did not have a breakdown of who was being charged with which offences, and could not say whether any of the women had been caught working n the vice establishments.

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The police statement warned that under the Immigration Ordinance, anyone who violates the conditions of their stay in Hong Kong face the maximum penalty of $50,000 fine and imprisonment for up to two years.

The same penalty is prescribed for those who take up employment in violation of their visa conditions.

Those who aid and abet the crimes are also liable to prosecution.

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Storm battering Luzon to be felt in HK starting tomorrow

 By The SUN

No work and schools for 2 days in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces because of Storm Ma-On (PNA)

A strenghtening storm now over northern Luzon is expected to be felt in Hong Kong tomorrow night, with rains and winds reaching their peak on Thursday, according to the HK Observatory.

The Observatory expects to issue its standby Storm Signal No. 1 later tonight as Tropical Cyclone Ma-on approaches to within 800 kilometers of Hong Kong.

Ma-on, called Florita in the Philippines, prompted President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr to order a two-day closure of government offices and public schools in Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan.

The Philippine Weather Bureau warned of more rain, severe winds, flooding and possible landslides as the storm moves across the country tomorrow.

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It is expected to weaken gradually before leaving the Philippines, then re-intensify and develop into a typhoon over the South China Sea Wednesday night.

This means that the hot and dry weather that has baked Hong Kong for weeks will continue tomorrow, with the first rains brought by the storm falling in the evening.

Based on its trajectory, Ma-on is expected to be the storm that will come closest to Hong Kong so far this year as it surges to Southern China, with its winds still gathering force as it skims the China Sea.

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The Observatory forecast read: “The local winds will strengthen tomorrow night (24 August). Winds will significantly strengthen further on Thursday morning (25 August). There will be heavy squally showers, very rough to high seas and swells. Under the influence of storm surge, low-lying areas may be flooding or have backflow of seawater.”

Seas will also be very rough to high, with swells.

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The Observatory called for “complete appropriate precautions against strong winds, heavy showers, and flooding as soon as possible.”

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 The weather is expected to return to hot and dry by Friday, with some showers expected.

 

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2 Pinay na nahuli sa raid ng Immigration, kulong ng 15 buwan

Ang operasyon ng Immigration kung kailan kabilang sa mga naaresto ang 2 akusado

Dalawang Pilipinang nahuli sa Tsim Sha Tsui sa isang operasyon ng Immigration Department laban sa ilegal na pagtarabaho ang nahatulan ngayon (Aug. 22) ng pagkabilanggo ng tig-15 buwan.

Tatlong kaso ang inamin ni Maricar Gueta, 52, at lima ang inako ni Merlyn Ibon, 61, na nahuling nagtatrabaho bilang taga-hugas ng pinggan sa isang restaurant na ni-raid ng mga Immigration officer noong July 7, kahit matagal nang walang bisa ang kanilang visa bilang domestic helper.

Kasama sila sa 14 na trabahador at pitong employer na inaresto sa operasyon ng Immigration na may code name na "Lightshadow" at "Twilight" noong July 4-7 sa 64 na target na lugar na gaya ng kainan, bagsakan ng basura, mga ipinapagawang lugar, at mga tindahan.

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Ang dalawa ay umamin sa harap ni Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai sa Shatin Magistracy.

Sa walong kasong iniharap sa dalawa, na may iba’t ibang sentensiya na pagdurusahan nila nang magkakasabay, ang pinakamabigat na parusang pagkabilanggo ng 15 buwan ay ipinataw sa kanila dahil sa ilegal na pagtatrabaho at, sa kaso ni Ibon, ang paggamit din ng HKID ng isang permanent resident upang makakuha ng trabaho.

Pinarusahan si Gueta ng 12 linggong pagkabilanggo sa una niyang kaso, ang overstaying, dahil hindi siya umalis ng Hong Kong sa dalawang linggong ibinigay sa kanya matapos siyang ma-sisante noong Aug 31, 2016. Mahigit limang taon nang paso ang kanyang visa nang mahuli. 

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Sa pangalawang kaso niya, si Gueta ay pinarusahan ng 15 buwang pagkabilanggo dahil sa ilegal na trabaho, kung saan ang suweldo niya ay $18,000 sa isang buwan. Nagtrabaho siya mula 6 ng umaga hanggang 6 ng gabi, limang araw sa bawa’t linggo.

Ang pangatlo niyang kaso, na may parusang walong buwang pagkabilanggo, ay ang pagpapakita ng Hong Kong ID card na hindi sa kanya noong siya ay hinuhuli. 

Si Ibon naman ay naparusahan ng 10 buwang pagkabilanggo dahil nag-overstay siya nang mahigit 15 taon; pinayagan lang siyang manalagi sa Hong Kong hanggang January 11, 2007 pero hindi siya umalis hanggang siya ay nahuli. 

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Idinagdag dito ang 15 buwang pagkakabilanggo dahil gumamit siya ng HKID ng isang permanent resident upang makakuha ng trabahong bawal sa kanyang wala nang visa. 

Ang ikalawang sentensiyang 15 buwan ni Ibon ay dahil sa pagtatrabaho nang ilegal, kung saan kumita siya ng $65 kada oras at nagtrabaho ng dalawang araw tuwing linggo bilang relyebo ni Gueta.

Ang ikaapat na kaso ni Ibon, na pinarusahan ng 12 buwang pagkabilanggo, ay ang pag-prisinta ng HKID ng ibang tao nang hinuhuli siya.

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Nadagdagan pa ng kaso ni Ibon nang makita sa kanyang locker ang isang pekeng HK ID, na nasa kanyang pangalan, kaya pinarusahan siya ng karagdagang 12 buwang pagkabilanggo.

Sa kanyang paghingi ng pagluluwag sa parusa, sinabi ng abogado ni Gueta na isa itong balo na nag-iisang sumusuporta sa kanyang dalawang anak na babae at kanyang magulang sa Pilipinas.

Sinabi nito na sumulat siya sa husgado upang ipahayag ang kanyang pagsisisi sa ginawa at ang kagustuhang umuwi na sa kanyang pamilya.

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Sinabi naman ng abugado ni Ibon na siya ay hiwalay sa asawa at tanging sumusuporta sa kanyang dalawang anak at dalawang apo, at humihingi rin siya ng tawad.

Ang pag-amin ng dalawa ay naka-tipid sa oras ng husgado, dagdag nito.

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