Public urged to get flu vaccination early

By The SUN

 

CE Lee (center) gets his flu shot, and calls on everyone to do the same before winter sets in

Senior government officials led by Chief Executive John Lee received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) today, Thursday, to encourage the public to also get their shots early in preparation for the coming winter flu season.

CE Lee said receiving the flu vaccine this year is of particular importance compared with previous years because people are more likely to get the flu now that the immunity they acquired from having had Covid-19 vaccinations has waned.

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He said people who get sick of the flu and Covid-19 at the same time could face serious consequences.

"A person may suffer from serious illnesses after getting infected with influenza. Co-infection with influenza and Covid-19 may result in more serious complications and even death,” said Lee.

He said getting vaccinated early is particularly important for those in high-risk groups such as the elderly and young children.

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To emphasize the importance of this message, Hong Kong residents aged 50 or above can get both their Covid-19 shot and a free SIV at the same time when they visit any community vaccination centre.

They can also make prior reservations for receiving both vaccinations through the booking system of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection reported a total of 4,318 Covid-19 infections today, of which 325 were imported cases.

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Six Covid patients have died, while 1,669 others are receiving treatment in public hospitals.

Health Secretary, Prof Lo Chung-mau, said that the decision to provide Covid vaccine at the same time as the influenza shots is in line with the consensus reached among members of the Scientific Committee under the Department of Health.

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He said a number of venues, including designated facilities of the Hospital Authority and the DH, have started providing both vaccines at the same time.  

“As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies afterwards, I strongly appeal to members of the public to receive vaccination early," he said.

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Under the government vaccination program, free or subsidized flu vaccines are given to eligible persons, including care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities as well as those in child care centres, children aged 6 months to under 12, persons aged 50 or above, pregnant women, persons with intellectual disability and recipients of Disability Allowance.

For more information, members of the public may call the CHP at 2125 2125 or browse the dedicated webpage on Vaccination Schemes.

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Abused Indonesian maid Kartika back in HK for civil claim vs employers

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Kartika is seeking about $800k in compensation from her torturers

Kartika is back, and this time, she wants her former employers described as “cruel” and “vicious” by a judge nine years ago, be made to pay her damages for torturing her over a two-year period.

The Indonesian domestic worker will appear in District Court tomorrow, Thursday, at the start of the hearing of a civil case she filed against her former empoyers, Tai Chi-wai and his wife, Catherine Au Yuk-shan.

According to Edwina Antonio of the Mission for Migrant Workers which is helping Kartika pursue her case, the amount being claimed is nearly $800,000.

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A group representing the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body will stage a 30-minute picket outside court to show support for Kartika and demand an end to what they call as the government’s discriminatory policies toward migrant domestic workers.

Tai, now 51, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison on Sept 18, 2013, after being convicted of two counts of wounding Kartika Puspitasari, now 39, using his fists on one occasion, and a bicycle chain on the other.

Au, now 50, who inflicted most of the injuries on the helper, was jailed for five and a half years on six charges of wounding and assault occasioning bodily harm. Au was found to have tortured the maid with a hot iron, a paper cutter, bicycle chains, a hanger and shoe.

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The offences took place at the couple’s residence at Serenity Court in Taipo between October 2010 and October 2012.

But the accused were acquitted of false imprisonment – a charge laid based on Kartika’s claim that she was made to wear a diaper, then tied to a chair without food and water, while the couple and their three young children went on a holiday to Thailand.

Judge So Wai-tak said this claim was exaggerated and unbelievable. So also said an allegation that Au had forced Kartika to wear children’s clothes that exposed her breasts was “doubtful.”

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This was despite the testimony of a caretaker for the building where the couple lived, that he saw Kartika wearing ill-fitting clothes and looking dirty the few times she was allowed to leave the house in the company of either accused.

However, the judge dismissed the couple’s defense that Kartika’s wounds were self-inflicted, and were made to extract money from them.

A doctor at the trial said Kartika had 45 scars that were about six months to just a week old, and could have only been caused by another person.

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He also said there were multiple linear scars on the maid’s legs and wrists that were consistent with her claim that she had been bound with cable.

Some of the wounds also matched Kartika’s claim of being scalded with a hot iron.

In her testimony, Kartika said she was not paid a salary during the two years that she had worked for the couple, and was not given any day off. They also made her sleep in the kitchen or toilet.

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Shortly after she worked for them, they threw away all the clothes that she had brought from Indonesia, and forced her to work wearing only a translucent plastic bag and a diaper.

Au also allegedly used threats to stop her telling anyone about her work condition. She was not able to seek help because there was no landline in the house, and the couple used only mobile phones.

Kartika managed to flee her tormentors's house on Oct. 9, 2012, after Tai had punched her in the mouth for eating without his permission, and threatened to knock off all her teeth. Fellow Indonesians she met on the street rescued her.

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Pilipina na overstay ng 14 na taon, nahuli sa ale-ale na nagtitinda ng alak

 

Isa sa mga nahuli sa mga raid na ginawa noong Aug 15-18.

Isang Pilipina na nabistong overstay na nang 14 na taon nang mahuli ng mga pulis at ahente ng Immigration sa isang bar na kanyang pinamamahalaan sa Central, ang humarap sa Eastern Courts ngayon (Oct. 5) upang sagutin ang limang asunto laban sa kanya.

Pero hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na magsalita si Mary Jane Batalla, 52 taong gulang, dahil hiniling ng taga-usig na ipagpaliban ang pagdinig sa Nov. 30 dahil kailangan nila ng karagdagang legal na payo at tiyakin na sapat ang ebidensiyang nakalap laban sa kanya.

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Sinang-ayunan ni Principal Magistrate Peter Law ang hiling ng taga-usig.

Dahil hindi hiniling ni Batalla na payagan syang magpiyansa, ibinalik sya sa kulungan hanggang sa susunod na pagdinig.

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Nahuli si Batalla nang mag-raid ang pulis at Immigration sa bar na kanyang pinagtatrabahuan sa 8^th floor ng Fai Man Bldg., sa Li Yuen Street West sa Central noong Aug. 15 kaugnay ng kanilang “Operation Champion” laban sa ilegal na pagtatrabaho.

Kasama si Batalla sa 10 inaresto sa mga raid na ginawa sa 92 negosyo sa Central at New Territories mula Aug. 15 hanggang Aug. 18.

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Inakusahan si Batalla ng pagtitinda ng alak nang walang lisensiya, pagtatago ng mga inuming ito para ibenta, pagtatrabaho nang walang kaukulang visa, overstaying ng 14 na taon, at pagpapatakbo ng negosyo na labag sa mga patakaran kontra sa Covid-19.

Sinabi ng taga-usig na nakumpirma na ng Government Laboratory na ang nasamsam na mga bote ng inumin ay may sangkap na alcohol, at nakumpirma na rin ng Immigration Department na nag-overstay si Batalla. Dumating siya sa Hong Kong bilang turista at pinayagang manatili lang nang hanggang July 7, 2008.

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Health expert says HK must drop all anti-pandemic restrictions

By The SUN

 

Hui says compulsory testing is no longer an effective tool in combating the coronavirus

A government adviser on the pandemic has called for the scrapping of all anti-pandemic measures in Hong Kong as soon as possible to allow the city to catch up with the rest of the world.

Chinese University professor David Hui made his call as the government announced that a total of 3,642 Covid-19 infections were recorded Wednesday, of which 324 were imported. The daily tally was up by about 400 from yesterday.

Ten more Covid patients have died, while 1,675 are being treated in public hospitals.

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Hui said that compulsory testing orders which the Centre for Health Protection issues on residents of specified premises on a daily basis are no longer effective in combating the spread of the virus.

He said it was inevitable for the virus to be found in the sewage of certain buildings where infected residents are spending home isolation.

The same is true for the LeaveHomeSafe app, which restricts the entry to certain specified premises of people deemed high risk for Covid-19. He said the app is no longer effective in tracking the spread of the virus.

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Hui also said the “0+3” arrangement which puts incoming travelers on a three-day amber code restrictions must also be abandoned if there is no rebound in cases in the coming days.

“The government should consider implementing the zero-plus-zero arrangement as soon as possible, preferably before November. There will be many large-scale conferences in November," Hui said.

He pointed out that the number of infections in Hong Kong has been slowly falling in recent days, as well as the number of deaths and patients getting hospitalized. At the same time, the vaccination rate has been going up.

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“There absolutely are conditions to relax social distancing measures,” he said.

Air crew get a blue code on their return in HK but must undergo PCR tests for 5 days

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has dropped its so-called “closed-loop system” for locally based flight crew starting Tuesday, which means they can now leave their quarantine hotels freely when commuting overseas.

However, they are still advised to avoid going to bars or large-scale banquets.

The same rule applies when they return to Hong Kong, where they now get blue health codes on arrival. That means, they will not be prevented from going inside premises deemed high-risk such as restaurants.

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But unlike other new arrivals, air crew who spent time abroad will have to wait for a negative result of their PCR test at the airport, before being allowed to go home. They must also undergo PCR tests daily for five days after arrival.

Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union was quick to call on the government to drop these rules, saying they are tough on the crew, especially those returning from long-haul trips.

The union said exhausted air crew should be allowed to go home to rest after taking the Covid-19 test, instead of hanging out at the airport for between two to three hours to wait for their test results. 

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There is also no need to subject them to daily PCR testing for five days while other travelers are required to do this on days 2, 4 and 6 after arrival. 

But following the announcement of the easing of restrictions, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, said the move was a “significant milestone” towards normalizing its operations.

The airline said it will add more flights, while continuing to pursue the removal of all restrictions on its crew.

The changes will also apply to Hong Kong Airlines Ltd., Greater Bay Airlines Co. and Cathay affiliate HK Express.

The rules were tightened amid the fourth wave of the pandemic last year, when two pilots and a flight stewardess were found to have left their homes in violation of restrictions, causing the spread of the coronavirus in the community.

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Pilipina naawa sa among nasentensyahan ng kulong dahil sa pananakit sa kanya

 

Si Renalyn Guiang at ang among nanakit sa kanya, si Leong Pui-Chi.

Nahatulang makulong ng mahigit apat na buwan ang among nanakit sa kanya, pero awa ang naramdaman ng Pilipinang si Renalyn Guiang nang makita niya ulit ang babaeng nagpadama sa kanya ng takot at desperasyon sa loob ng 21 buwan.

“Nangayayat siya,” ika ni Guiang.

Ito ay kahit malinaw pa rin sa kanyang alaala ang huling karahasang dinanas niya sa kamay ng dati niyang amo na si Leong Pui-Chi, 48 taong gulang, na binasahan ng hatol noong Huwebes, Sept. 29, sa Kwun Tong Courts.

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Napatunayan sa harap ni Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan ang anim sa 12 kaso ng pananakit sa Pilipina mula Dec. 23, 2020 hanggang Sept. 9, 2021, na isinampa laban kay Leong.

Para sa unang limang pananakit -- na kalimitan ay pagsampal, pagbatok at pagkutos habang siya ay sinisigawan -- isang buwan ang ipinarusa sa bawa’t kaso, na ipagsisilbi ni Leong nang sabay-sabay.

Ang ika-12 at huling pananakit, na nangyari noong Sept. 9, 2021 sa bahay ng amo sa The Grandiose sa Tseung Kwan O, ay nagdulot ng karagdagang parusa kay Leong ng tatlong buwan at dalawang linggo.

Ibig sabihin, ang kabuuang sentensya ni Leong ay pagkakakulong ng apat na buwan at dalawang linggo.

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Pero hindi agad ikinulong si Leong dahil pinayagan siyang magpiyansa habang inaapela niya ang kanyang sentensya sa mataas na hukuman.

Sa isang panayam, ikinuwento ni Guiang ang huling karahasang nagtulak sa kanya upang, sa wakas, ay magreklamo na sa pulis.

“Galit na galit siya noon,” ani Guiang. “Pinuntahan niya ako sa loob ng toilet at sinampal ng maraming beses, at binatukan sa side ng ulo ko, sa tuktok. Iyong dalawang mata ko idiniin niya. Parang dinudukot niya ang mga mata ko.

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“Umiyak na po ako at nagmakaawa na itigil na nya. Buti na lang napindot ko yung record ko (sa mobile phone)” na nagsilbing ebidensiya na nagdiin sa amo niya.

Nang itigil ng amo ang pag-atake sa kanya dahil kailangan niyang sunduin sa paaralan ang anak nito ay naisip ni Guiang na tumawag sa pulis. Pero nagpigil pa rin siya dahil natakot siya na baka agawin ng amo ang kanyang telepono, at magkagulo sila sa loob ng bahay at mabaliktad siya.

Pero habang nag-aalmusal siya sa isang fastfood restaurant matapos umalis ng bahay ay  naramdaman niyang mahapdi ang sugat sa pisngi niya, at makirot ang kanyang matang namumula. Tumawag siya sa isang pinsan at dalawa niyang kapatid, na nagpayong magsumbong siya sa pulis.

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Dumating ang pinsan niya at sinamahan siya sa mga clinic na isa-isang tumanggi nang malaman ang dahilan ng sugat niya, at itinuro sila sa Tseung Kwan O Hospital. Pagkatapos na gamutin ang sugat niya ay pinayuhan siya ng doktor na magsumbong sa pulis na nakatalaga sa ospital.

Hindi na siya bumalik sa amo, at kinupkop siya sa boarding house ng simbahang kinabibilangan niya, ang Jesus is Lord. 

Tinulungan din siya ng Mission for Migrant Workers, na hinihingan niya ng payo pagkatapos ng unang karahasang ginawa sa kanya. Doon din siya natutong sumulat ng diary tungkol sa mga nangyari sa kanya at magtabi ng ebidensiya.

Pagkatapos ng imbestigasyon ng pulis, sinampahan ng reklamo ang amo na nagdetalye sa 12 pagkakataon na ayon kay Guiang ay sinaktan siya ng amo.

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Nakatakdang umuwi sa Oct. 11 si Guiang sa kanyang asawa at dalawang binatilyong anak sa Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. 

“Gusto ko silang mayakap at maalagaan muli,” ika niya.

Ang problema na lang niya ay pambayad sa door-to-door para sa naipon niyang mga ipapadala sana sa pamilya, dahil naubos na ang ibinayad ng amo matapos niya itong kasuhan sa Labour Tribunal.

 

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Hottest Chung Yeung Festival recorded

By The SUN

 

Hundreds of those who chose to go out despite the heat went near the sea for a whiff of fresh air

Hong Kong on Tuesday experienced its hottest ever Chung Yeung Festival on record, with the temperature registering 33.5 degrees at the Observatory at 2pm.

The previous record of 32.5 degrees was set in 1959.

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The Centre for Health Protection reminded people, particularly those intending to do some outdoor activities, to take precaution against heat stroke and sunburn.

These include drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration and paying attention to children, the elderly and those with chronic disease as they are more vulnerable to heat stroke.

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Despite the heat, many people took advantage of the holiday to venture out, including foreign domestic workers who hung out at their favorite haunts across Hong Kong.

But in line with tradition, many locals took to cemeteries to visit their dear departed and sweep  graves.

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The Observatory said the weather should become slightly cooler on Wednesday morning, as a northeast monsoon is expected to reach the coast of Guangdong. Some showers are also expected in the next couple of days.

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