HK govt to launch public consultation on excessive FDH borrowings

Some employers or former employers are harassed when their FDWs fail to repay loans

The Hong Kong government is set to launch a public consultation this month on how to further regulate unsecured personal loans to address the issue of excessive borrowing of foreign domestic workers.

This was announced by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Joseph Chan, during the question and answer session at the Legislative Council yesterday, May 28.

Chan was responding to questions raised by legislator Judy Chan on reports that employers or former employers of FDWs were harassed by money lenders or collectors after the FDW borrowers defaulted on their payment.

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Judy Chan asked for statistics on such cases, and reminded the Financial Services official of the government’s pronouncement last November that it would hold a public consultation and education on excessive FDW borrowings in the first half of the current year.

Paul Chan said that in 2024 there were 11 reports of employers being harassed by debt collectors while there have been six such cases so far this year. All the cases were forwarded to the police for further investigation and appropriate action.

“The Government is very concerned about the borrowing issue of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and will strictly regulate licensed money lenders and step up publicity and education etc, to better protect the interests of FDHs and their employers,” he said.

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Paul Chan said that the public consultation on excessive borrowing will not only tighten rules on unsecured personal loans, it will also strengthen protection for loan referees and people like employers who played no role in their helper’s borrowing.

After the public consultation, the views submitted will be collated and summarized, and the Legislative Panel on Financial Affairs will be consulted when finalizing the relevant measures and in formulating legislative proposals.

Paul Chan said that the law is clear that money lenders and their debt collectors can only recover debts from the person who undertook the loan.

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“A money lender and his debt collector shall not, while trying to locate the whereabouts of debtors, harass anyone, adopt unlawful or improper debt collection practices. Therefore, if a FDH employer or former employer discovers that his/her residential address is used improperly and feels harassed, he/she may lodge a complaint with the money lender concerned and request immediate cessation of his improper debt collection behaviours,” said Paul Chan.

He added that any breach of the licensing conditions for money lenders could incur a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

A complaint that a money lender had harassed a FDW employer or former employer could serve as a ground for the Registrar of Money Lenders or the police to revoke its licence.

   

 

 

As part of the continuing effort to find a solution to the problem, Paul Chan reminded the legislators that in May last year, employment agencies were told to inform the Labour Department whether they are associated with any financial institution when applying or renewing a licence.

 

Since then and until the end of April this year, LD reportedly received and processed declarations from 3,362 EAs and among them, 41 declared affiliations with financial institutions.

 

Paul Chan said the government continues to closely monitor the money lending sector and has taken various steps to further regulate their activities.

 

In 2021, money lenders were required to assess the borrower’s repayment ability and take this into consideration when extending loans. In addition, money lenders were obliged to immediately cease using a referee’s information once they become aware that the written consent was in fact not signed by the referee.

 

In 2022, the government lowered the statutory interest cap rate from 60 to 48 percent and the threshold of extortionate rate from 48 to 36 percent.

 

  

Pinay gets 6-month delay in sentencing for conspiracy to defraud

 

Visa application (Immigration Department photo)

A Filipina was freed on bail today after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud, for presenting a fake domestic helper contract to the Immigration Department, which led to approval of her application for employment visa.

Josephine Soberano, 38 years old, would be able to enjoy her temporary freedom until Nov. 28, the date chosen by Magistrate Andrew Mok for her sentencing.

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In the meantime, she would be subject to conditions imposed by Magistrate Mok, such as not leaving Hong Kong while the case is pending, reporting regularly to police and informing police before she moves to a new address.

Soberano was accused of conspiring “with other persons unknown, to defraud the director of Immigration …. and his officers” by presenting a fake domestic helper contract that purported to show that she would work for a certain Li Sin-ting.

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She was also accused of “dishonestly and falsely representing to the Director and his officers that (her) entries to and remaining in Hong Kong were for the purpose of working as a domestic helper of Li….”

As a result, she was “granted permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted,” the police complaint read.

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She was charged with violating Common Law and sections 2(3) and 4(2) of the Criminal Jurisdiction Ordinance. The offense is punishable with up to 14 years’ imprisonment under section 159C (6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

HK OFWs divided on sacking of Arnell Ignacio

 

Ignacio endeared himself to HK OFWs by joining them in their activities, like zumba on the street

Two big groups of overseas Filipino workers have expressed divergent views on the Php1.4 billion land mess that led to the sacking of Arnell Ignacio as administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante) has called for the immediate prosecution of Ignacio, who was fired by Malacanang on May 21 for allegedly buying the land without the approval of the OWWA Board, and using money meant for the repatriation of distressed migrants.

“Dapat lang na pormal na sampahan ng kaso ng Department ofMigrant Workers si Arnel Ignacio. Dapat gawin ito sa lalong madaling panahon. Hindi kayang pagtakpan ng mga matatamis na ngiti at salita ang mga katiwalian,” said a statement issued by Unifil-Migrante yesterday, May 27.

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(It is just right for the Department of Migrant Workers to file formal charges against Arnel Ignacio. This should be done immediately. Sweet smiles and words should not be allowed to hide corruption).

Unifil-Migrante also urges a full and comprehensive audit of OWWA Funds, especially in light of DMW disclosures that Ignacio managed to divert funds meant for OFW repatriation so he could buy the land without the approval of the OWWA Board.

The group also expressed concern that Ignacio  managed to sign the deed of sale for the land without OWWA Board approval, that he allowed the seller to get a ‘refund’ of the Php36 million that he paid for the local transfer tax, and to continue collecting rent for the land despite ownership having transferred to the government as early as September last year.

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“Dapat na itulak ang full and comprehensive audit ng pondo ng OWWA dahil karapatan ng mga OFWs at mamamayang Pilipino na masigurong ang pondo ng bayan ay nagagamit nang maayos at hindi nalulustay. Dapat managot at ikulong ang mga mandarambong ng pera ng mga OFWs,” said Unifil.

(It is just right to push for a full and comprehensive audit of OWWA’s fund because it is the right of every OFW and citizen of the country that public funds are used properly and not squandered. All those who plunder money meant for OFWs should be held to account and jailed).

Global Alliance posted a video to rally support for Ignacio

However, another group, Global Alliance of Filipinos in Hong Kong, has called on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to reinstate Ignacio, saying he “served sincerely with dedication and humility.”

The group, which was named by OWWA Hong Kong as its exclusive partner in organizing festivities for OFWs, said Ignacio was the only OWWA administrator who made them feel loved.

“His dedication during his tenure gave us hope that no matter how far we are with our family and no matter what problem we encounter outside the country he is there to catch us when we fall,” said the statement.

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It ended the short post with a message to Ignacio, saying they believe his conscience is clear, and that all he was after was good governance.

Although the group made the post on behalf of all OFWs in Hong Kong, many of those who posted comments on their page were critical of their stance, saying there appeared to be strong evidence that Ignacio had committed the illegal acts he is accused of.

 

 

 

 

Ignacio had 52 condominiums razed in P1.4 billion land deal, says DMW

 

Ignacio in his final visit to HK as OWWA Administrator

A building with 52 condominium units was torn down on the P1.4 billion land that the sacked administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Arnell Ignacio, had bought without going through proper legal channels, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac cited this in several interviews, including one with The SUN, as among so-called “red flags” or warning signs that attended the purchase of the land by Ignacio from a real estate developer.

The condominiums could have easily served as temporary shelters for overseas Filipino workers, if that was Ignacio’s real intention in buying the lot adjacent to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in September last year.

Secretary Cacdac said the land title specifies the building housing the condominiums as part of the purchase, and he had no idea why Ignacio had them razed.

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But an even bigger anomaly according to Cacdac, was that Ignacio signed the Deed of Absolute sale in September 2024 without prior approval from the Board of Trustees, in violation of Section 22 of the OWWA Charter.

In addition, Ignacio alleged diverted OWWA’s P2.6 billion repatriation fund to cover the land purchase, again without approval from the OWWA Board, which Cacdac chairs as DMW secretary.

“What the former administrator did was to convert this P2.6 billion of emergency repatriation fund into capital outlay for land acquisition,” Cacdac said in an interview with ANC. “This, too, should have gone to the Board.”

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Ignacio appeared before the media earlier, and firmly denied any irregularities in the P1.4 billion land deal that led Malacanang to remove him from his post.

“But let me tell you, to the OFWs I have been serving, hindi ko kayo pinagtaksilan. Ginawa ko lang ito para sa inyong pagmamahal at wala po akong kinita dito,” Ignacio said at the news conference where he spoke at length but did not take any question. (But let me tell you, the OFWs I have been serving, I did not betray you. I just did this because of my love for you but I did not make money from it).

He also made a vague reference about reporting to the OWWA Board about the land deal but stopped short of saying he had obtained its approval. He merely asserted that the negotiations over the land purchase had been going on for some time, with the Board’s full knowledge.

The OWWA Board with Cacdac as chair should have approved the land deal (File)

Cacdac is adamant the Board had no prior knowledge about the land purchase. He said Ignacio only informed the Board after the transaction was discovered, including amendments in the deed that allowed the seller to be “refunded” for the Php36 million that he paid as local transfer tax for the sale.

After a letter from “concerned OWWA employees” questioning the land deal reached the OWWA Board, Ignacio was told to get back the money from the seller.

“Sabi namin, anomalya yan, dapat i-produce yung ibalik yung pera na yan at agad naman binalik,” said Cacdac.  (We said, that’s anomalous, the money should be returned—and it was, but only after we called his attention to it.)

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Another red flag, said Cacdac, was the rent for the existing commercial spaces on the land. Even after the title had passed on to the national government in November last year, an “attorney in fact” for the seller had allegedly been collecting the rent.

When questioned about it, Ignacio could not provide an answer, said Cacdac.

Eventually, the seller paid Php1.4 million to OWWA in rent from September 2024 to March this year, from two commercial lessees, KFC and Smart Communications.

The DMW chief who is on holdover capacity following his courtesy resignation on May 21 on orders of Malacanang, said criminal charges against Ignacio are being readied, while an administrative case had already been filed against him earlier.

Filipina DH jailed 6 weeks for stealing from employer

 

Housing development where theft took place (Google Maps photo)

A domestic helper has been jailed for six weeks after she admitted stealing a gold chain and a purse containing three credit cards, a membership card and a gift card owned by her employer.

Unicie Ugalde, 43 years old, pleaded guilty in a hearing Tuesday (May 27) before Magistrate Philip Chan at Kowloon City Court to a charge of theft, or violation of section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

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A police complaint dated April 1, 2025 stated that the theft took place at the employer’s flat in Man Tin Heights in Hung Hom, Kowloon.

There was no indication that she used the credit cards for purchases.

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Meanwhile, three Filipino residents are in jail to await the resumption of a burglary case filed against them by police at Eastern Court.

R. Malonzo, 38 years old and a bar tender; R. Prado, 49 years old and a delivery man; and A. Arceo, 29 and a construction worker, appeared together Tuesday before Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung.

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The three are accused of entering a shop, Green Kennedy Town, in the basement of the Tung Lee Mansion on Water Street in Sai Ying Pun, last March 20, and stealing an iPad worth $3,999.

Magistrate David Cheung scheduled the case’s resumption for July 2.

2 DHs accused of throwing away dead baby to conceal its birth

 

Hospital where alleged offense took place (Google Maps photo)

Two domestic helpers are facing a charge of concealing the birth of a child by disposing of its dead body in a rubbish bin.

Roselyn Sorongon and Jhoan Lorilla, 34 and 36 years old, respectively, appeared in Kowloon City Court Monday (May 26), charged with violating section 48 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance.

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The Yau Ma Tai Police said in information filed last Feb. 24 that Sorongon and Lorilla had wrapped the baby in a diaper before discarding it in the rubbish bin inside a washroom for the handicaped at the Emergency and Accident Room of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.

The offense was alleged to have taken place last Feb. 20,

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The intent, it added, was to “conceal the fact of its birth.”

The police report did not mention who had given birth to the baby.

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Magistrate Philip Chan adjourned the case to Aug. 18 and freed the two on bail of $500 each.

 

Info drive on safe remittances launched

 

PCG and Customs officers kick-starting the information drive

Keep the money you send back home safe by dealing only with licensed money remittance and delivery companies.

This is the message that the Philippine Consulate General and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department want to send out to migrant workers, by coming out with a bilingual information brochure titled “Tips on Choosing Remittance Services.”

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The infographic released on May 13 aims to help safeguard the money sent home by Filipino migrant workers, which altogether constitutes 8.3% of the country’s gross domestic product and 7.8% of the gross national income.

Statistics from the Central Bank of the Philippines show that personal remittances from overseas Filipinos reached an all-time high of over US$38 billion last year.

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The infographic urges overseas Filipinos to send money only through licensed and reputable money service operators.

Under Hong Kong’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), operating a money service or remittance center without a license from the Commissioner of Customs & Excise (CCE) is an offense for which the maximum penalty is imprisonment for two years and a fine of $1,000,000.

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To kick-start the project, overseas Filipinos who were at the Consulate during the launch, including those attending the post-arrival orientation seminar were enjoined to listen to speakers about the collaborative work.

PCG warns against 'sponsored' visa scam

 

The PCG's warning against employment visa 'fixers'

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong has issued a warning against “fixers” pretending to be employees of licensed recruitment agencies who offer fictitious employers to foreign domestic workers.

The said fixers are known to offer domestic workers the names of supposed local residents willing to sponsor their employment visa for a fee of between $20,000 and $25,000.

The domestic workers are then assured they can take up other jobs that pay more, as they are not required by the registered employers to work for them.

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Many of those who agree to such offers are terminated FDWs desperate to remain in Hong Kong, and are lured by the promise of higher pay by working as cleaners, dishwashers, packers, and other non-skilled jobs for which the market demand is high.

The PCG’s warning came in the wake of a number of cases of Filipino domestic workers being sentenced for up to 12 months in jail after being found to have lied to immigration officers about their supposed employers.

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“Unfortunately several MDWs (have already been) arrested and convicted for false representation to an Immigration officer by taking part in this modus operandi,” said the PCG advisory.

Under the Immigration Ordinance, false representation to an Immigration officer is punishable with a fine of up to P150,000 and up to 14 years in jail.

In one such case, Celia Tamani, 38, was sentenced to nine months in jail on May 15 after being found to possess fake employment documents on her return to Hong Kong after the mandatory exit to another place abroad.

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She was convicted after admitting using a false instrument, presenting a fake notification slip for extension of star and re-entry to Hong Kong on Apr 23, and breach of condition of stay as she remained in the city without lawful authority.

She was found to have lied to Immigration when she said in her application for extension of stay that she would work as a domestic helper for a certain Tang Kok-bun.

How to check if the agency is licensed in HK or the Philippines

Another Filipina,  Jo An Mantos, 39, was jailed for five months after being arrested as she was about to fly out of Hong Kong, having been found to have lied to an Immigration officer and submitted false documents to get her stay extended.

She repeated the offense last May 13 when she told the same lie to an Immigration officer at the departure area of the HK International Airport.

The highest sentence of 12 months was imposed on April 24 on Crischalyn Alban, 43, after she pleaded guilty to false representation.

According to the police case, Alban lied when she told an Immigration officer on Aug 20 last year last year that she would work for a local resident as a domestic helper, and presenting an employment contract to this effect. 

The contract turned out to be fake, and was submitted to allow the defendant to remain in Hong Kong under a foreign domestic helper visa.

Several more Filipinos who are under FDW contracts are due to appear in court or stand trial after being arrested at commercial establishments while allegedly doing illegal work.

 

20 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations

 

Immigration officers round up illegal work suspects

Immigration officers arrested 14 suspected illegal workers, three employers and three overstayers in the latest series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted its opertions codenamed "Fastrack", "Lightshadow", "Twilight", and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion", for four consecutive days from May 19 to May 22.

During its anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 75 target locations including commercial buildings, massage parlours, residential buildings, restaurants and retail stores.

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They arrested 12 suspected illegal workers comprising five men and seven women, aged 36 to 60. 

Among them, one woman was a holder of recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. Three women were also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

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Another three women, aged 53 to 60, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

During operation "Champion", enforcement officers raided 30 target locations in Sham Shui Po District.

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Two suspected illegal workers were arrested. The man and the woman both aged 42, were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment.

An ImmD spokesman reminded the public that illegal work is punishable with a fine of up to $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. “Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," the spokesman added

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The penalties are even higher for those caught in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment.

It is also a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable, with penalties including a fine of up to $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment.

OFW mistakenly reported as dead by ‘hacker’

 

Still photo from Evelyn's 'proof of life' video

News that a Filipina had died after being found unconscious on her bed prompted an unknown person to falsely identify the victim as Evelyn E, even sharing her passport photo to support the claim.

The fake news spreader shared a supposed post from Evelyn’s  ward, saying she was found unresponsive in bed, holding a shattered cell phone which she had supposedly tried to use to call for help from her male employer.

The more discerning reader would have wondered why the only item that was covered in her passport page was her date of birth, while the more sensitive information like her name and face had been left untouched. 

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Obviously, this was done to make readers believe that Evelyn was the 56-year-old unidentified Filipina who was reported to have died, when her photo shows she is a lot younger.

Nevertheless, the fake story immediately circulated through Facebook shares until it reached the office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Hong Kong, which immediately asked the employment agency which recruited the worker to check on Evelyn.

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Evelyn, who was then busy cooking her employer’s dinner, was as shocked as the agency representative when she learned of the fake news that was circulating,

She immediately did two live Facebook posts showing she is alive and well, and asked whoever had posted her passport photo and told people that she had died, to take down the malicious post immediately. 

She said her account had been hacked, but did not offer an explanation as to who could have done it, and why.

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She also did not respond categorically to questions as to how her passport had ended up in the wrong hands, saying a number of people already had photos of the document as her account had been hacked previously.

Evelyn relayed that she heard of her supposed death at past 5pm yesterday from a neighbor she met by accident outside her employer’s flat. She was too busy the whole time she did not have the chance to hold her phone, much less scroll through social media posts.

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Even her employer could no longer call her on her mobile phone that she had to use their landline to talk to her.

Evelyn said  that she will report to OWWA today to seek advice.