Family of each FDW who died in Tai Po fire to get $800K

 By Daisy CL Mandap

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac and HK Labour Secretary Chris Sun at the presser

Hong Kong Labour Secretary Chris Sun said in a joint press conference with Philippine Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac this afternoon that the family of each foreign domestic worker who died in the Tai Po fire will get around $800,000 (Php6 million) in total.

The bulk of the money will come from statutory or employee compensation, which stands at least $514,510 (Php3.85 million) for death that resulted from work-related accidents or injuries.

Another one-off financial assistance of $200,000 (Php 1.5 million) will come from the government as a “token of solidarity,” plus $50,000 (Php 375,000) in funeral grant.

DETAILS HERE

“So all together, for foreign domestic helpers who died in the fire, they will be receiving roughly $800,000. That’s roughly equivalent to US$100,000” Secretary Sun said.

The financial support will not be used for funeral and repatriation expenses, as this should be covered by the insurance that each employer is obliged to take when they hire a FDH.

Sun also assured that the Labour Department will assist the family in securing the payout, and will ensure that only the rightful beneficiary will get the money.

Basahin ang detalye!

For FDHs who were injured, Sun said they will each get $100,000 or $50,000 depending on how long they had to be confined in the hospital. The bigger amount will be given to those who had to be hospitalized for at least a week.

All other FDHs who worked in the estate will be compensated as well.  

“For those who survived, we will be providing them with $20,000,” he added.

In addition, they willl be provided with $2,000 in Octopus card credit which they can use for transportation or to make emergency purchases from most shops. 

Maryan Esteban was the lone Filipina fatality in the Tai Po fire

The financial aid will be provided to more than 200 FDHs who are on record as having lived and worked in the affected estate, more than half of them Indonesians and the rest, Filipinos.

“According to the information available to us, there will be a total of 235 foreign domestic helpers working in Wang Fuk Court,” said Sun.

“Among them, according to our record, 10 died in the fire, three are injured, 192 – they are safe, and there are still 30 who are missing.”

Nine of the 10 who died were Indonesians, with the sole Filipina being identified by the Philippine Consulate as Maryan Pascual Esteban. Two of the three who were injured are also Indonesians, with the lone Filipina being identified as Rhodora Alcaraz Tonacao.

Secretary Cacdac for his part relayed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s utmost sympathy for the loss of life and injury to Hong Kong residents, and gratitude for all the assistance provided to all Filipino domestic workers.

In particular, he thanked the Hong Kong Labour Department for helping contact employment agencies to track down the Filipino migrant workers listed as working in the area, providing access to shelters so they could look for missing FDWs, helping the Philippine Consulate set up a help desk in the affected area, and linking them up with the Immigration Department so the work documents of the workers could be restored.

Cacdac also thanked the Hong Kong government for looking after Tonacao, who was initially listed as critical due to smoke inhalation, but is now recovering after a successful medical procedure which he described as innovative.

“We’ve also been cooperating in terms of ensuring protection and provision of services to survivors, as well as the family of the deceased,” he said.

Cacdac said the Philippine government is also extending financial assistance to the victims, apart from providing counseling to the survivors who are suffering from trauma because of the incident.

The help to the victims will be extended to provide for the schooling of the children of Tonacao, and Esteban’s only child.

According to the latest bulletin posted by the Philippine Consulate, apart from one death and one injured worker, all 92 other Filipino domestic workers listed as working, or had worked in Wang Fuk estate, are safe and accounted for.

A total of 156 people are now known to have died in the fire which broke out last Wednesday and consumed seven out of eight residential buildings in the estate, where some 5,000 people  lived.

HK govt to give cash aid to Tai Po fire victims, including FDHs

 

Affected residents bundle up in a shelter - all will get cash aid (Facebook photo)

The Hong Kong government has begun handing out cash assistance to victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, including tokens of solidarity of $200,000 and funeral grants of $50,000 to families of each individual who died.

The government is also “gradually providing a living allowance of $50,000 to each of the 20 cases in the first batch of recipients. These are all on top of the emergency cash subsidy of $10,000 given to each affected household.

In addition, cash handouts will be given to those injured, students who need to buy replacement school supplies, and those who lost or could potentially lose part of their income because of the fire, including foreign domestic helpers.

DETAILS HERE

Separately, the government also said that all individuals injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals will receive full fee waivers for all necessary healthcare services (including drugs and medical devices) for the entire duration of their treatment and rehabilitation. The fee waiver will continue until Dec 31, 2026.

For those injured, $100,000 will be granted to those who stay in the hospital for seven days or more, and $50,000 for those who are hospitalized for six days or less. The money will be disbursed through the Social Welfare Department.

All students living at Wang Fuk Court will receive a special subsidy of $20,000 each so they can repurchase textbooks, stationery, computers and other learning tools, or for transportation expenses. The subsidy will be given to all those in day schools in secondary, primary and special schools and kindergartens, as well as those studying full-time in locally accredited courses at post-secondary institutions.

Basahin ang detalye!

A special subsidy of $20,000 will be given to construction workers, cleaning workers, security guards and FDHs working at Wang Fuk Court to cover loss of income or need to repurchase business equipment. FDHs will be subsidized for the loss of their personal belongings or possible unemployment due to their employers’ demise or inability to continue hiring them. The subsidy will be administered through the Labour Department.

Filipina Maryan Esteban (below photo) and her 5-year-old ward both died in the fire

Separately, the LD reminded employers of their obligation to pay compensation to their employee who sustains an injury or dies at work, under the Employees Compensation Ordinance. This covers the  five construction workers who were at work when the fire broke out, or FDHs who were doing domestic work at the time.

The LD said it has been proactively reaching out to the employers concerned, injured employees, family members of the deceased employees and others to provide appropriate assistance, and is closely following up on the cases.

The LD said it will assist the family members in applying for relevant emergency relief funds, and refer them to the Social Welfare Department for support services. For enquiries on employees' compensation, please call the LD's hotlines 2150 6364 (for injury cases) or 2852 3994 (for fatal cases).

The government has also set up a Support Fund to help affected residents rebuild their homes and provide long-term and sustained support to them. The Fund had a start-up capital of $300 million from the government, but with private donations pouring in, the total fund has reached $1.6 billion.

Many residents lost all their belongings in the fire, as this photo shows

In addition, special services have been started by the Immigration Department after office hours to help residents affected by the Tai Po fire to have their personal documents replaced, including HK identity cards, HK passports, birth and marriage certificates, etc. Visa extension services are also included.

Special services will be offered at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O from 6pm to 10pm from December 1-5 (Monday to Friday) and 1pm to 10 pm on Saturday, December 6.

At present, residents affected by the fire can go to any Immigration office to apply for personal documents without having to make an appointment.

Immigration will also deploy officers to the two temporary shelters still in operation (Tung Cheong Street Community Hall and Tai Po Community Centre) to pick up affected residents and transport them to the Tseung Kwan O headquarters for processing relevant applications.

All applications will be fast-tracked, so the newly reproduced documents could be ready in two days.

For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk) or by the enquiry hotline (2824 6111).

 

 

 

 

Filipina charged with $649k theft

 

Rhine Garden in Tsuen Wan (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper will remain in jail after appearing Monday at West Kowloon Court, accused of stealing  $649,000 worth of valuables, including $29,000 in cash.

Principal Magistrate Don So ordered Elizabeth Padre, 55 years old, remanded in custody until her next court appearance on Jan. 26 next year.

She is charged with violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

DETAILS HERE

Padre is accused of stealing the following between the May 12, 2022 and Oct. 25, 2025 at her employer Lai Yee-sin’s flat in Rhine Garden on Castle Peak Road in Sham Tseng. Tsuen Wan,

• three gold rings (recovered),
• one pendant in silver and green color (recovered),
• two gold chain bracelets (recovered),
• one gold necklace (recovered),

Basahin ang detalye!

• six gold earrings (recovered),
• one bag in red color (recovered),
• one stone in silver (recovered),
• one bracelet in grey color (recovered),
• one stone in green color (recovered),
• one silver ring with a stone in white color (recovered),
• three pairs of gold bracelets with dragon and phoenix printings,
• three gold necklaces with gold pig-shaped pendants.
• three gold necklaces,
• six gold bracelets,
• two gold earrings,
• seven gold rings,
• two gold bars (each at a weight of one tael),
• four gold bars (each at a weight of 0.5 tael),
• six gold coins,
• four gold pendants,
• cash of HK$4,000,
• five gold metal bars (each at a weight of one tael),
• five gold pendant,
• one gold ring,
• one gold chain bracelet,
• gold one anklet,
• cash of HK$25,000.

Filipinos in HK hold memorial services for Tai Po fire victims

 

Flowers and prayers were offered on Chater Road to the victims of the Tai Po tragedy

There was a huge outpouring of grief and sympathy for the victims of the massive fire in Tai Po that based on the latest figures, has claimed the lives of 146 people, as Filipinos gathered on Sunday to hold two separate memorial services for them.

In the first event, organized by FilAction Hong Kong, a mass was held at 11am on Chater Road, with Fr. Dwight dela Torre of Philippine Independent Church officiating.

Hundreds of Filipinos were joined by a big number of migrant workers from Indonesia and other nationalities in a gathering held in in solidarity with the victims of the tragedy. 

Nine Indonesian, and one Filipina domestic worker were among those who died.

DETAILS HERE

“With heavy hearts and hopeful spirits, we stood united in our shared grief and concerns,” said FilAction HK in a statement.

Fr Dwight reminded all those who gathered of the strength found in community, and the healing power of support.

Fr Dwight led the community in praying for strength and healing for the victims and their families

The memorial service which was arranged on a day’s notice, was held in lieu of a mass protest action against corruption which FilAction (Filipinos Against Corruption and Impunity) Hong Kong had planned to coincide with the One Trillion March in several places in the Philippines.

The Consulate also offered a mass for the Tai Po victims at the OFW Global Centre

At 4:30pm, the Philippine Consulate General organized a Catholic mass at the OFW Global Centre also in memory of the victims of the Tai Po tragedy.

Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. led the rites, during which a special prayer for the Tai Po victims was read out.

Basahin ang detalye!

The prayer read in part: “We earnestly beg Your grace, show mercy to all those who have died, and grant them eternal rest.”

“We implore You to heal the injured, that in their suffering they may find Your comfort.”

Congen Israel lit the ceremonial candle signifying the Advent, or the coming of Christ.

Consul General Jun Israel lights the candle signifying the start of Advent

The mass was also held to offer a special prayer for Fr. Efren Ojeda, OFM, who passed away on November 22 at the age of 66.

Fr Efren had long served the Filipinos in Hong Kong, and was well-remembered for his humor and deep concern for the migrant community.

A full memorial mass for Fr Efren will be held at a later date, followed by his burial. 

$5.1m money laundering case sent up to DC

 

The Fanling Court has elevated to District Court a money laundering case involving one of the biggest sums ever seen in a bank account held by a Filipina.

Jereza Baylon, 44 years old, will thus appear at the higher  court on Dec. 18 to face a charge of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to section 25(1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

DETAILS HERE

In the case’s final  hearng on Friday (Nov. 28) at Fanling Court, Magistrate Frances Leung Nga-yan ordered that Baylon, who is unemployed and has no permnent address in Hong Kong, be detained until the next court date.

A complaint filed by Tai Po Police alleged that Baylon handled $5,144,271:3 in her account with Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited between July 1, 2023 and Oct. 23, 2023.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

It said she let the transactions in her bank account take place “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that property… in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence.”

Section 3 of the Ordinance prescribes the following penalties for the offense:

Basahin ang detalye!

(a) on conviction upon indictment: a fine of $5,000,000 and imprisonment for 14 years; or

(b) on summary conviction: a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for 3 years.

 

Pinay’s fraud sentencing put off

 

 Shatin Court

A Filipina scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday at Shatin Court for conspiracy to defraud, a result of her pleading guilty earlier to lying to the Immigration Department to get her domestic helper’s visa approved, will have to wait another 11 months to find out her penalty.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong put off the sentencing of J. Soberano to Oct. 16 next year to allow additional investigation in which she promised to help prosecute other people involved in the conspiracy.

In the meantime, Magistrate Cheang allowed her bail of $1,000.

DETAILS HERE

Soberano is accused of violating Common Law and sections 2(3) and 4 (2) of the Criminal Jurisdiction Ordinance, which is punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

In its complaint, the HK Police alleged tnat Soberano “conspired together with other persons unknown, to defraud the Director of Immigration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("the Director") and his officers” by entering into a fake domestic helper’s contract with her supposed employer, Li Sin-ting.

PINDUTIN DITO

The complaint said she “dishonestly and falsely represent(ed) 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… and thereby to induce the said Director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant (her) permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

Meanwhile, a trial against an agent accused of setting up an arrangement similar to Soberano’s, will continue on Dec. 15-16 after using up two scheduled dates today.

Basahin ang detalye!

Kathleen Emily Vizcarra,  36 years old, is also accused of conspiracy to defraud as the agent who arranged for Mariclaire Calagui to get a visa after entering into a fake domestic helper’s contract with Lee Ka Ming Billy.

Such a lie induced Immigration officers “to act contrary to their public duty,” the complaint said.

Deputy Magistrate LI Cheuk-wai set her bail at $20,000 plus surety of $20,000.

Filipina confirmed dead from Tai Po fire

The Philippine Consulate General announced late on Saturday the death of a Filipina domestic worker (later named as Maryan Pascual Esteban) from the massive fire in Tai Po.

"With great sadness the Philippine Consulate General confirms the passing of an overseas Filipino worker from the Tai Po fire incident," the announcement said.

"Far from her native home, she had made innumerable sacrifices for her family."

The Consulate extended condolences to the Maryan’s family and friends. Maryan, a single mother, is said to have left behind a 10-year-old son in Cainta, Rizal.

Her death was the first to be announced from the ranks of Filipino domestic workers who lived and worked in the estate, where the fire first broke out at about 2pm on Wednesday, and raged for the next 48 hours.

The official death toll from the fire now stands at 128, with around 200 other people still missing. More than 70 are in hospital with injuries.

Among the Filipinos, there is one other who is still in hospital after suffering smoke inhalation. Another 12 are still being traced, while 79 have been declared safe and accounted for.

Two masses for the victims of the tragedy will be offered by the Filipino community in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong who are observing three days of mourning.

The Philippine Consulate is organizing a Catholic mass at 4pm at the OFW Global Centre in United Centre.

This will be preceded by a Christian mass on Chater Road at 11am, with Fr. Dwight dela Torre of the Iglesia Independiente Filipina (Aglipayan Church) presiding. The service will be held in lieu of a protest action against corruption in the Philippines organized by the FilAction group.

“In the wake of the devastating fire tragedy in Tai Po, our thoughts are profoundly with the victims and survivors who have endured unimaginable loss and suffering,” Fil-Action said. “Those who perished deserve our remembrance; their stories must be told, their lives cherished, and their struggles recognized.”

The protest was originally planned as Hong Kong's counterpart to the Trillion Peso March on EDSA in Manila on the same day.

DETAILS HERE

The Philippine Consulate has also set up a Special Enquiry Counter at the Tai Po Complex, 8 Heung Sze Hui Street, Tai Po, today and tomorrow (Nov. 29 and 30), 10 am to 4pm,  to provide assistance to Filipinos affected by the fire.

The Consulate's enquiry desk for Filipino fire victims

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Flags at government buildings fly at half mast

Earlier on Saturday, flags at all government buildings flew at half-mast, while Chief Executive John Lee led civil servants in offering three minutes of silence to the victims.

The government has declared three days of mourning for all victims, from Saturday until Monday. Books of condolences have been set up at all 18 districts in Hong Kong where members of the public could write down messages of sympathy.

As Hong Kong mourns, Secretary for Labor and Welfare  Chris Sun paid tribute to domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines who were working at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po when the fire broke out.

“We understand many of them took care of elderly people and children at the Court. We know, many of them stayed inside together with their employers, taking care of them even at the height of the fire,” Sun said.

“You can be rest assured, we will provide all the necessary assistance to all the foreign domestic workers and make sure their stay in Hong Kong is safe, and to cater to their needs,” he added.

Basahin ang detalye!

The Government will give $200,000 condolence donation to each member of a family who perished in the fire, including domestic helpers. Other cash handouts amounting to $10,000 and $50,000 were given earlier to each household affected by the fire.

Lying to Immigration gets Pinay 7 months’ jail

 

Visa application interview (Immigration Department photo)

Lying to Immigration authorities to be able to get approval for a domestic helper’s visa has landed a Filipina in jail for seven months.

Valerie Ann Tapiculin, 36 years old and holder of a recognizance form to serve as her identity document, received the usual one-third discount from Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong at Shatin Court, after she pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to defraud.

DETAILS HERE

Police had accused her of the crime, which is contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 1590(6) of the Crimes Ordinance by conspiring “with other persons unknown, to defraud the Director of Immigration” between June 2022 and Dec. 15, 2023 .

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

She did this “by dishonestly and falsely representing to the Director and his officers that (she) had been employed by Wong, Tsz Ying as a domestic helper, and (her) entries to and remaining in Hong Kong were for the purpose of working as a domestic helper.”

Basahin ang detalye!

This, it added, induced “the Director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty” and granting her permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong “in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

Arrest warrant issued for Pinoy who fails to show up for shoplifting case

 

Kowloon City Court

An unemployed Filipino Hong Kong resident charged with two counts of theft for shoplifting from separate stores on Wu Kwong St. in Hung Hom last June 16, has worsened what could have been a simple case involving a total of just $263.80,

R. Ledesma, 65 years old, has been issued a warrant of arrest by Magistrate Andrew Mok  because he failed to show up for a hearing at Kowloon City Court last Tuesday, November 25. 

DETAILS HERE

Ledesma was accused of stealing one pack of chicken meat, two packs of sausage and two packs of garlic valued at $211.90 from a Wellcome store.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

For the second charge, he was accused of stealing two packs of biscuit and one can of cooked food with a total value of $51.90 from a nearby Best Mart 360 shop on the same day.

Basahin ang detalye!

He was freed on bail of $2,000 in the last hearing on Oct. 11, which may be confiscated because of his absence.

Condolence points for fire victims to be set up across HK

The death toll now stands at 128, with 79 injured (Reuters photo)

The Hong Kong government is setting up condolence points across the city for the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po for the next three days.

The updated death toll from the massive fire that engulfed seven buildings now stands at 128, with around 200 people still missing. At least 79 people have been injured, including 11 firefighters.

The government has also released mourning arrangements for the victims, starting with flags at all government buildings being flown at half-staff from November 29 to December 1.

DETAILS HERE

Chief Executive John Lee, together with principal government officials, members of the Executive Council and civil servants will observe a three-minute silence at 8am on Saturday at the Central Government Offices.

During the mourning period, officials will not attend non-essential public activities, and all entertainment and celebration activities organized or funded by the government will be cancelled or postponed as appropriate.

Meanwhile, the condolence points will be set up at all 18 districts for the public to sign condolence books from Saturday, November 29 to Monday, December 1, from 9am to 9pm.

Basahin ang detalye!

They can be found at the following places:

 
Central & Western
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Wan Chai
Moreton Terrace Activities Centre
20 Tung Lo Wan Drive, Causeway Bay
 
Eastern
North Point Community Hall
123 Java Road, North Point
 
Southern
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Kowloon City
Hung Hom Community Hall
UG/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong
Kwun Tong Community Centre
17 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong
 
Sham Shui Po
Lai Chi Kok Community Hall       
G/F, Banyan Garden, 863 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po (entrance facing Sham Shing Road)
 
Wong Tai Sin
Wong Tai Sin Community Centre
104 Ching Tak Street, Wong Tai Sin
 
Yau Tsim Mong
Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
Islands
HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School
Area 10, Phase 3, Fu Tung Estate, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing
Lai King Community Hall
205, Lai King Hill Road, Kwai Chung
 
North
Wo Hing Community Hall
G/F, 7 Wo Ming Lane, Fanling
 
Sai Kung
Chi Shin Activity Centre
G/F, Tseung Kwan O South Ancillary Facilities Block, 5 Chi Shin Street, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po
Multi-purpose Hall of Fu Heng Neighbourhood Community Centre
Fu Heng Estate, Phase IV, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan
Sai Lau Kok Garden Multi-purpose Room
Sai Lau Kok Road, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun
Siu Lun Community Hall
19 Siu Lun Street, Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

2 Indonesian domestic workers among 75 confirmed dead in Tai Po fire

 

Edwina Antonio of Bethune House mans the help desk for migrant workers
set up on a podium opposite the fire-stricken estate 

At least two Indonesian domestic workers are among the 75 people confirmed to have died in the fire that swept through seven residential buildings in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Wednesday,  Nov. 26, while two others were injured.

The news was released by the Indonesian Consulate General earlier today, Thursday. The Consulate said it continues to coordinate with the Hong Kong Police Force in ensuring the safety of its nationals affected by the tragedy.

In a statement released Thursday night, the Labour Department extended sympathy to the families and employers of foreign domestic helpers who lost their lives in the fire. 

DETAILS HERE

The statement said affected FDH employers and FDHs wiht enquiries regarding employment matters may call a dedicated hotline set up for this incident: 3582 8987 for FDH-related matters, or 2929 4054.

Latest reports said the number of those injured had also risen to 76, including 11 firefighters. One other firefighter was among those who passed on yesterday after sustaining injuries while battling the blaze.

Around 200 other people remain missing from the the worst fire to have hit Hong Kong in modern times. Reports from the scene said the blaze had been largely put out though small fires could still be seen in the upper floors of three buildings in the estate.

Basahin ang detalye!

Authorities said three people from the construction firm that had been carrying out renovation work at the estate since July last year have been detained on manslaughter charges. Initial investigations reportedly revealed that substandard and highly flammable materials were used in the renovation.  

Data taking from some migrant workers affected by the inferno

Reports coming from Manila said the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong had reported that between 70 and 80 Filipino domestic workers were employed in households affected by the Wang Fung Court fire.

Of these, 22 have been located in various shelters set up to accommodate the victims of the fire, and were provided with care kits and assistance  

However, they have yet to receive a report of any casualty among the workers, except for one who was taken to hospital with her employer and baby ward.

The worker, Rhodora Alcaraz Tunacao, had alerted the Filipino community to their plight in an audio message she sent to a friend on Facebook.

She was initially confined in the ICU because of smoke inhalation but is now said to be in stable condition.  

In a statement released last night, the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, said that they had not received any confirmed reports of Filipinos being killed in the Maximum Level 5 fire.

“However, the Consulate received unverified information that some Filipino domestic workers may be trapped inside the buildings. The Consulate immediately passed on this information to authorities.”

Several Filipino groups and organizations, along with officers of the Consulate, the MWO and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration had gone to the affected areas to check on the condition of the affected migrant workers.

They distributed relief packs to Filipino migrant workers who live in the area and went looking for those who might need help.

In an interview with Philippine media, OWWA Admnistrator PY Caunan said 19 workers had sought help, mainly with getting duplicate copies of their passport, contracts and other documents that were lost in the fire.

The Mission for Migrant Workers and its shelter, the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, set up a desk on a podium across the estate to assist migrant domestic workers who need help, and provide them with relief goods.

Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio who was one of those who manned the help desk said people who were giving away relief goods to those affected by the fire left some items with them for distribution to migrant workers.

Antonio said they had spoken with a Filipino migrant worker who told them that her friend had sought refuge in a temporary shelter provided by the Hong Kong government. She reportedly told the volunteers that she saw 22 other Filipinas in the shelter.