HK Immigration raids illegal dental clinic allegedly run by Filipino DHs

 

Immigration officers usher the 6 fake dentists from their 'dirty' clinic to a waiting van

Six Filipino domestic helpers have been arrested for allegedly providing illegal dental services from a subdivided unit in Sham Shui Po, which immigration officers have described as dirty and unhygienic

The six, all women aged 34 to 60, were providing the unlicensed dental treatments, with two of them acting as “dentists” while the other four served as their assistants.

Thirteen other Filipinos were found inside the makeshift clinic, apparently customers seeking treatment.

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Chief Immigration Office Tai Koon-ho said at a press conference that none of those arrested possesses professional dental qualifications or training.

Some of them claimed to have learned dentistry through online videos, while one said she had worked as a dental assistant in the Philippines.

Yet, they provided dental services such as teeth cleaning, orthodontic treatment and even denture making to fellow FDWs, charging between $150 and $500 per procedure.-

Tai said initial investigations revealed the group operated in their secluded base every Sunday, attracting clients through word-of-mouth endorsements.

Seized in the raid were various instruments for teeth cleaning, braces and denture making.

Officers were appalled at the hygiene conditions in their place of operation, calling them “deplorable.”

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"The so-called surgery room merely contained a sofa, distilled water, tissues, towels, air fresheners, a wash basin and rudimentary surgical instruments.

"When we arrested the so-called dentists, they were wearing ordinary clothes. There was no evidence that their clothing, medical supplies or tools had undergone any sterilisation.

"Medical waste was also discarded haphazardly, posing a significant risk of cross-infection,” said Tai.

 The six are now being held on suspicion of violating their conditions of stay and for practicing dentistry without registration, and are expected to be charged.

 None of their employers were reportedly aware of their illicit activities.

Immigration warns more arrests could follow while they continue their investigation.

OFWs share fears after sharing HKID details with stranger

Filipina who took down the FDWs' HKID numbers is often seen at Exchange Square in Central (Wikipedia photo)

Three newly arrived foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are now beset with worry, because in a moment of blind trust, they shared their HKID card numbers with a fellow Filipina they met on the street, and who initially offered to broker loans for them.

The three said no to the loan, but did not hesitate to flash out their HKID cards so the woman could take note of their numbers.

But after being told later that this was foolhardy if not dangerous as scammers could use their HKID cards to commit crimes like money laundering, the three became anxious.

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“Nababahala po ako, baka hindi gamitin sa hindi maganda. Hindi na po ako nagtatrabaho ng maayos at gusto ko nang umuwi. Natatakot po ako talaga, first time kong mangibang bansa,” said Dina (not her real name), one of the three who sought help from The SUN. (I am truly worried because my HKID card could be used for something illegal. I can no longer work properly and am thinking of going home. I am really scared, this is my first time to go abroad).

Luckily, her employer understood her predicament, and immediately took her to the police to declare her ID as “lost.”

Told that she could have just told the police the truth and given them the name card of the woman who inappropriately took down their identity numbers, Dina said her employer was the one who advised her that reporting the HKID as lost was the best solution to her dilemma.

“Una po pumunta kami ng police. Nag report kami. Pero mga ilang araw lang gusto ko na talaga umuwi at natatakot akong makulong. Sabi ng amo ko magpa lost ID na lang daw ako.” (First we went to the police to file a report. But after only a few days I wanted to just go home because I’m afraid I would get jailed. My employer said I should just report my HKID card as missing).

Dina has since reported the matter to the Philippine Migrant Workers Office and was relieved when told that she did the right thing by going to the police immediately. 

Both the Philippine Consulate and the MWO have long reminded FDWs not to ever surrender control of their bank accounts or their HKIDs to avoid getting entangled with money laundering syndicates.

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Dina shared the woman’s name card which bore the name of one of the biggest financing companies in Hong Kong, as well as the name “Juliet” and two phone numbers stamped on it.

Told about this, two other Filipinas who are in a group chat of illegal recruitment victims said they had also encountered “Juliet” about two to three years ago and described her as a sweet talker who often hangs out by the carabao statue near the Exchange Square building.

They said that after winning their trust by giving them her name card, she would then get their personal details, including their phone numbers.

“Tawag nang tawag sa akin,” said Cely (not her real name). “May time pa na sinabi sa akin na naka ready na ang pera ko for pickup. Sabi ko, excuse me po di ko need ng pera at ayaw ko ng utang.” (She used to call all the time. There was even one time when she said my loaned money was ready for pick. I replied with, excuse me but I don’t need money and I don’t like loans.”

On hindsight, they realize they should not even have given the woman their phone numbers.

Based on a number of recent cases involving money laundering, this would have been the most prudent way for everyone, especially FDWs, to avoid getting scammed.

As early as December 2023, the MWO had already warned FDWs against lending their HKIDs to avoid falling into the money laundering trap.

That followed the arrests of 14 FDWs who had been tricked into “lending” their HKID cards to people they hardly knew for a measly sum of between $200 and $500. After taking over their identities, syndicate members proceeded to launder millions of dollars using the bank accounts they opened in the helpers’ names.

In all these cases, the FDWs were the ones who were arrested, hauled in court and meted jail terms. The bigger perpetrators – the ones who did the actual money laundering – were not even identified.

 

41-year-old Filipina helper’s death remains mystery

 

The Filipina was found unconscious in her employer's flat at Royal Ascot in Shatin (Wikimedia)

The Migrant Workers’ Office at the Philippine Consulate has confirmed that a 41-year-old Filipina domestic helper died on August 13 after being found unconscious at her employer’s flat at Royal Ascot in Shatin, but the cause of her death is still unknown.

MWO Officer-in-charge Tony Villafuerte said they have not been told of the preliminary findings as to the cause of death. Police records only show that she was declared dead after collapsing.

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The body of the deceased is still at the Fu Shan Mortuary in Shatin but her sister has already paid a visit to the MWO and was told about what she needed to do to get the remains repatriated.

Villafuerte said the sister will return to MWO today, Sunday, along with the employer of the deceased so they could be given further instructions.

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The Filipina’s employer had called the police at around 10pm on August 13, and said that her domestic helper had collapsed inside their apartment.

Paramedics who responded to the emergency call found the helper unconscious, and immediately rushed her to Prince of Wales Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

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The police have classified the case as “collapse resulting in death upon hospital arrival” and are investigating. An autopsy will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.

 

HK deports 25 ex-DHs with rejected asylum claims

 

Immigration officers escort deportees to vans that took them to the airport

The Immigration Department (ImmD) has deported 25 overstayers, all of them former foreign domestic helpers, in a strong signal that it is serious in ending the abuse of the non-refoulement claim mechanism.

Although the ImmD announcement did not specify the countries of origin to which the deportees were sent, at least some of them are Filipinos whose non-refoulement claims were unsubstantiated and rejected.

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Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment.

ImmD said it carried out the repatriation operations on August 13 and 14.

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“The ImmD is very concerned about the abuse of the non-refoulement claim mechanism and is aware that a number of claimants were former foreign domestic helpers,” it said.

The agency said it has been cooperating with the relevant consulates-general in Hong Kong and will continue such co-operation to step up publicity and education for newly arriving foreign domestic helpers to help them understand that they should not abuse the non-refoulement claim mechanism.

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The mechanism has been used by claimants claiming fear of persecution, torture, or other serious harm in their home countries, to avoid being deported while their claims are assessed and even appealed in the High Court.

During their extended stay in Hong Kong, the claimants receive allowances for food and shelter from the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK), but most represent themselves in court for the hearing of their cases.

Pinoy youth arrested for alleged scissors scare

 

The alleged incident happened outside Kornhill Plaza in Quarry Bay

 A 19 year-old Filipino male was reportedly arrested at about noon on Friday after he allegedly used a pair of scissors to intimidate and attempt to assault people on the street.

According to reports, police arrested the accused outside Kornhill Plaza in Quarry Bay after he brandished a 17-cm long knife and tried to scare and assault passersby before boarding a bus to flee.

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Alert witnesses called the police who then arrested the suspect at a nearby bus stop on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

He remains in custody for further investigation.

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The youth who holds a HK identity card is said to be have emotional health issues.

 

165 people arrested in month-long illegal work sweep

A big percentage of those arrested were from the Mainland

The Immigration Department said on Friday that its anti-illegal work operations that lasted for a month and a half had led to the arrest of a total of 165 individuals, including suspected illegal workers, employers and abettors.

The operations that were carried out from July 2 to August 14 focused on certain sectors that have severe manpower problems, like renovation, catering, logistics and cleansing.

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Those arrested comprised 109 suspected illegal workers, 54 employers and two aiders and abettors

A big majority of the workers were from the mainland, totaling 74, while the remaining 35 were all non-ethnic Chinese. Seven of them were found to possess forged HK ID cards.

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They were mostly working as dishwashers, kitchen workers, waiters, waitresses, food delivery riders, renovation workers, cleaners and logistics workers. They were aged between 19 and 56.

Of those suspected of hiring them or abetting their employment, 54 were Hong Kong residents while one was a mainlander.

Illegal male workers are led away by Immigration agents

Since the arrests, 61 have been prosecuted for violating Immigration laws, including overstaying, using a forged HKID card, and taking employment while an illegal immigrant, is subject to a removal or deportation order.

Maximum prison terms for illegal employment is 10 years if a forged HKID card was involved, and fine of up to $50,000.

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Employers are punished more severely, with the fine reaching up to $500,000 plus 10 years in prison.

(If illegal activities are suspected, call Immigration’s dedicated hotline (2824 1551), email (anti_crime@immd.gov.hk) and online reporting platform (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/online-services/) to report illegal employment activities.)

 

 

Pinoy gets 5 months in jail for indecent assault

 

Building where offense took place (Google Maps photo)

A Filipino rock climbing coach was sentenced today to five months in jail for indecent assault on a woman last Christmas, in what his lawyer described as a romantic night that became a foolish mistake.

J.J. Padua, 24 years old, pleaded guilty last July 31 at Eastern Court, admitting that he committed the indecent assault on “female X” last Christmas day in a flat on Wood St. in Wanchai.

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Brief facts of the case read to the court indicated that he met the woman in a Yau Ma Tei gym where he was a rock climbing coach, and they had an “outing” on Christmas eve. They got drunk and ended up in the flat, where he groped the woman’s private parts.

The offense is punishable under section 122(1) of the Crimes Ordinance with up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

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Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung put off sentencing to today pending a probationary report he ordered because of Padua’s age.

His lawyer, in mitigation, said what could have been a romantic night became a foolish mistake for which Padua was remorseful and had apologized to the woman.

Magistrate Cheung then told him, “This is a serious offence. The facts are also serious. You took advantage of the victim.”

DMW reminds agencies and employers not to take OFW passports

 

Philippine passports are the property of the government, says the advisory

A directive issued by the Department of Migrant Workers recently reiterated the government’s long-standing policy against overseas Filipino works (OFWs) being deprived of their passports.

The advisory, reposted by the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong on August 14, reminded recruitment agencies, principals or foreign employers, and any third party that they must not withhold or confiscate an OFW’s passport “for deployment, employment, accommodation of as collateral for loans.”

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There are only two exceptions to this rule: (1) when the passport is withheld for visa stamping and required documentation by embassies or consulates; or (2) for immigration-related processing, when official procedures mandate temporary surrender.

OFWs are reminded they must always be in possession of their passports 

OFWs in turn are advised to retain custody of their passports at all times, except under the situations described above. When a passport is temporarily withheld from them, the OFWs must ensure it is returned to them immediately upon completion of the transaction.

Any agency or employer found to withhold OFWs passport as a policy or practice may be subjected to disciplinary action, including disqualification, suspension or cancellation of accreditation, said the DMW.

The Labor advisory is pursuant to the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, which states that the passport  is  “the property of the Philippine government and should remain in the possession of its holder at all times, including OFWs, particularly prior to departure and during the deployment period.”

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In Hong Kong, many OFWs use their passports as security or collateral for loans they contract with private individuals or groups that charge usurious rates.

Once the OFW is found to have voluntarily surrendered her passport to a loan shark, the Consulate will issue a replacement document only after the worker undertakes not to hock it again.

 

Podul begins to dissipate; more rains, thunderstorms seen

 

Podul as tracked by the HK Observatory

Tropical Storm Podul has begun dissipating as it moves deeper into central China, but the southwest monsoon rains it brought will continue to be felt in Hong Kong well into next week, according to forecasts from the Hong Kong Observatory.

“Tropical Storm Podul has weakened into a tropical depression,” the Observatory reported this afternoon.

The Observatory also hauled down both Storm Signal 1 and the Black Rainstorm Warning, which today closed most government and private offices, as well as schools.

Aside from localized flooding in low areas, the rains and thunderstorms brought by Podul resulted in five flights being cancelled and 145 others delayed. The canceled flights were destined for Manila, Beijing, Miyako, Osaka and Taipei.

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The storm also disrupted events such as the the 35th edition of the Food Expo and several other trade shows at the HK Convention Center in Wanchai.

 “Locally, showers in the afternoon brought around 30 millimeters of rainfall to many places, and rainfall even exceeded 50 millimeters over Lantau Island and Kwai Tsing District,” the Observatory said.

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Overall, however, the storm barely caused damage as it passed to within 300 kilometers north of the city at about 2pm.

 “At 4 p.m., Podul was centered about 220 kilometers north-northeast of Guangzhou. It is forecast to move west-northwest at about 28 kilometers per hour across the northern part of Guangdong, moving into central China and weakening further,” it added.

The Observatory forecast that Podul will dissipate gradually over central China tomorrow.

China-bound DHs among 38 Pinoys rescued from boat off Zamboanga

 

The rescued Filipinos were found inside this cramped boat headed out to sea

Four Filipinos recruited to work illegally in China as domestic helpers were among 38 Filipinos rescued by anti-human trafficking operatives aboard a wooden-hulled cargo vessel off Zamboanga City on August 8.

According to a Department of Migrant Workers’ Facebook post, eight of those rescued were all females, and were in possession of valid Philippine passports with tourist visas to China.\

Four of them said they were recruited to work as domestic helpers in China, with a promise that they would be paid 10,000 RMB (Php79,000) each monthly. They all had been previously offloaded or barred from leaving by Philippine immigration authorities.

The four others said they were bound for Malaysia, and were meant to travel using undocumented sea routes.

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The other passengers on the cramped boat who were identified as victims of suspected human trafficking and illegal recruitment were 14 males (12 adults and 2 minors) and 16 females (22 adults and 2 minors).

The DMW statement did not disclose where the other passengers were headed.

The wooden boat at the wharf where 3 facilitators of the human trafficking were arrested

Three individuals arrested on the wharf were identified by the victims as the facilitators of the illegal recruitment and transport. They remain in custody while appropriate charges are being readied against them.

Further investigation is being carried out to identify and arrest other possible co-conspirators.

At least four of the rescued individuals have reportedly expressed willingness to testify against the recruiters and facilitators with support from the Women and Children Protection Center.

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Following the rescue, all victims were transported to the PDCP Facility in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City, where they were given temporary shelter, food and medical attention with psychological intervention through the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare in the region.

The victims were also given orientation on safe migration practices and on the government assistance programs they can avail of moving forward.

The boat they were on was identified as ML  J-Sayang. It was boarded by law enforcers at Taha Wharf in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City and was said to be bound for Taganak Island, from where the victims were to be moved through unauthorized channels for overseas employment.

The rescue operation was carried out through the combined efforts of the Zamboanga Sea-based Anti-Trafficking Task Force, of which the Department of Migrant Workers Regional Office IX is a member.

Several other government agencies including the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Philippine Coast Guard had a hand in the operation.

Signal 1 up; Podul nearing HK but weakening

 

Podul tracking by HK Observatory

The Hong Kong Observatory raised Signal No. 1 today as Typhoon Podul (known as Typhoon Gorio when it was in the Philippines until this morning) slammed into Southern Taiwan and is due to hit the shores of Fujian tonight.

The typhoon would have weakened considerably by noon tomorrow, when it would be nearest to Hong Kong at less than 250 kilometers north northeast, as it continues its northwesterly sweep through Fujian and Guangdong.

After its landfall in southern Fujian tonight, the present forecast track sees Podul moving across Guangdong and weakening progressively.

The observatory said it will reassess the situation by tomorrow morning.

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“The Standby Signal will remain in force at least until 6 a.m. tomorrow. Depending on the weakening rate of Podul, its distance from the Pearl River Estuary and the change in local winds, the Observatory will assess the need to issue the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 later tomorrow morning,” the Observatpry said

“Locally, there will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms tomorrow. Showers will be more frequent in some areas at first.” the Observatory said.

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“Members of the public are advised to take note of the latest weather information and warnings issued by the Observatory tomorrow morning, consider road conditions before leaving home, and be on the alert for possible danger brought by heavy rain.” it added.

The Observatory forecast heavy squally showers and thunderstorms tomorrow. Showers will be more frequent in some areas at first.

“Members of the public are advised to take note of the latest weather information and warnings issued by the Observatory tomorrow morning, consider road conditions before leaving home, and be on the alert for possible danger brought by heavy rain,” it said.

 

Philippines takes part in HK Food Expo

 

Four companies, along with a university and a government agency based in the Philippines are taking part in the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Food Expo PRO, to be held from tomorrow, Aug 14 to 16, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).\

Each will be provided a booth at the Philippine Pavilion, located at 5E‑B20 & B22 in Hall 5E of the HKCEC, where they will showcase a variety of Philippine products, including coffee, tropical fruits, craft beer, and calamansi‑based processed foods.

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Their participation is made possible by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center representative at the Philippine Consulate, Vice Consul Robert Mabalot.

The participating Philippine companies and groups are: Engkanto Beer, a craft beer brand known for its award-winning beers; Empereur Farms PC, a small-scale Arabica coffee farm based in Tuba, Benguet; Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc, a company engaged in the export of fresh tropical fruits grown in Mindanao; McNester Food Products, a company based in Guimaras, Iloilo which produces mango and calamansi-based processed foods; Mountain Province State University and the Department of Trade and Industry in Baguio, Benguet.

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If you are based in Hong Kong and wish to visit the Philippine Pavilion in person, please register for your badge here: https://shorturl.at/CS784.