Govt shelves pay-as-you-throw scheme

 

Under the shelved scheme, residents will have to buy govt-designated trash bags

The government has announced that it will not implement the proposed waste-charging scheme on August 1 as originally planned because of widespread opposition from residents.

The withdrawal of the bill was announced at the Legislative Council earlier today by Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who said the SAR government will gazette the cancellation of the date when the scheme is due to take effect.

Cheuk said environment chief Tse Chin-wan had recommended postponing the scheme, and this was accepted by Chief Executive John Lee.

The decision was said to have made in part because Hong Kong’s economic rebound has not been as good as expected.

TAWAG NA!

However, Cheuk said the government remained committed to improving waste management and recycling practices in Hong Kong, with authorities set to report back to Legco on its work on this by the middle of next year.

Cheuk said up to 80 percent of citizens have opposed the implementation of the scheme as scheduled, while a survey showed a majority did not think it was right to pay for their waste.

Under the scheme which had already been postponed twice in the past, residents will be required to buy the designated plastic bags or tags they must use for their garbage. Otherwise they must sort their garbage and dump them in one of the city’s recycling stations.

Another drawback to implementing the plan is the misconception that the government is trying to make money through waste-charging, and the government’s own realization that it would increase the workload and pressure on cleaners. 

But to pursue its objective of coming up with a more effective waste management, public housing tenants will be given 20 designated garbage bags per month starting June, so they get used to the practice of waste reduction and clean recycling.

In reaction, Friends of the Earth Hong Kong said it was “extremely disappointed” about the postponement of the waste charging scheme.

The group said the government must use this time to implement the scheme in phases, improve trash collection and recycling facilities, and expand its coverage to include government buildings, schools, civil servant quarters, sports centres, and shopping malls. 

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Filipina’s plea in drugs, overstaying case put off

 

Tamorite's case is being heard at District Court

A Filipina charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs and three other offences has been told to return on July 25 pending the result of her application for legal aid.

Emilia T. Tamorite, 44 years old, was set to enter a plea on May 23, but as she came unrepresented, was just asked by Judge Justin Ko if she understood the charges against her. She said yes.

Tamorite also said she had applied for legal representation with the Legal Aid Department but had not received a reply.

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In response, Judge Ko said he received a letter from the Director of Legal Aid saying that they needed more time to process her application, so he asked Tamorite if she wanted to ask for an adjournment, and she said yes.

Tamorite was charged with two counts of drug trafficking. The first charge resulted from her arrest on Sept. 7 last year at the staircase of Leishun Court on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay. Allegedly seized from her was 2.6 grams of dried marijuana leaves.

A bigger quantity of dangerous drugs weighing nearly 7 kilos was alleged to have been subsequently found on Sept. 23 in her flat in Shing Kung Mansion on Electric Road, North Point. This resulted in a second charge of drug trafficking being filed against her.

TAWAG NA!

Allegedly seized from her flat were 6,658.2 grams of a solid substance containing traces of tetrahydocannabinol, 7.91 grams of a solid containing 0.07 gram of tetrahydocannabinol, 19.94 grams of a liquid containing 13.72 grams of tetrahydocannabinol, 67.9 grams of a solid containing 0.42 grams of psilocin, 163.72 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 9.93 grams of a solid containing 7.5 grams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 85 tablets containing a total of 14.1 grams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3.79 grams of crystalline solid containing 0.87 grams of methamphetamine chloride (or shabu), 1.27 grams of a solid containing 0.87 gram of coccaine, and 10 pieces of paper containing traces of lysergide.

The third charge against Tamorite was possession of poison. According to the charge, 264.61 grams of a liquid containing nicotine, a part 1 poison, was found in her possession when she was arrested at her flat.

During investigation, police also found out that Tamorite had overstayed her visa by more than three years, resulting in a fourth charge of violating her visa condition being laid against her.

Records showed she was allowed to enter and stay in Hong Kong as a domestic helper until July 9, 2020 but stayed on until she was arrested on Sept. 25, 2023.

As the defendant did not apply for bail, she was remanded in custody until the next hearing.

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Tourist fined $1K for drugs, detained for overstaying

 

West Kowloon Courthouse

A Filipino tourist was fined $1,000 after he pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court of possessing 0.85 gram of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), but he remained in jail for a charge of overstaying his visa for 10 days.

Gian.E. Aldea, 35 years old, had pleaded guilty in a hearing Friday (May 24) to possession of a dangerous drug found in a plastic bag by police who arrested him last April 11 in Lo Tak Court, Tsuen Wan.

During investigation, police also found out that the Immigration Department had given him only until April 1 to leave Hong Kong.

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Principal Magistrate Don So set a bail review hearing on May 31 to give Aldea, who was unemployed and described by police has “having no fixed abode in Hong Kong”, another chance to argue for his release.

So scheduled the next hearing for Aug. 13.

Meanwhile, at Eastern Court, James T Nunag, 29 years old, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.24 gram of shabu and a glass apparatus used for inhaling the drug.

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Nunag was found in possession of these articles during a routine patrol by police, who noticed the suspicious movements of Nunag at Exit B of the HK University MTR station.

Magistrate Minie Wat scheduled for June 7  Nunag’s sentencing pending a probationary officer’s report and urine test results that she ordered.

Meanwhile, Nunag is out on $500 bail.'

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Ipinakikilala ang CMHK Kabayan 5G: Maging konektado at yakapin ang kinabukasan!

Ikaw ba ay isang Kabayang domestic worker sa Hong Kong na naghahanap ng pinakamahusay na koneksiyon? Huwag nang tumingin sa iba. Ipinakikilala ng CMHK ang Kabayan 5G, ang pinaka-unang 5G prepaid card na para lamang sa mga dayuhang mangagawa na gaya mo. Humandang magulantang sa mala-kidlat na bilis, unli data at mga nakatutuwang bonus.

Dala ng Kabayan sa iyo ang puwersa ng top-rated na 5G network ng CMHK, upang masigurado ang kamangha-manghang koneksiyon. Masisiyahan ka sa tuluy-tuloy na streaming, walang patlang na paglalaro, at mabilis na pag-download. Sa aming mga pagsusuri, ang bilis ng pag-download ay umaabot sa 715Mbps sa  Central at 761Mbps sa Causeway Bay! 

Maging konektado sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas nang walang palya.

Ang aming all-in-one 5G package ay dinisenyo upang matugunan ang inyong pangangailangan. Gumamit ng unli 5G data sa Hong Kong, kung saan ang unang 30GB ay may mala-kidlat na bilis, at ang sumusunod ay nasa 2Mbps. Konektado ka sa bilis na 500MB kahit nasa Mainland China o Macau ka, kaya ikaw ay konektado habang naglalakbay. At, sa Kabayan ay 5G ay may libre ka pang 10 minutong tawag sa Pilipinas, upang mapakinggan ang mga pamilyar na boses ng iyong pamilya at kaibigan, kahit kailan gusto mo. Maging konektado rin habang nasa Hong Kong dahil may 300 minutong kang airtime.

Pero hindi lang iyan! May mga nakatutuwang offer at bonus ang Kabayan 5G. Mayroong 10% refill bonus kapag ikaw ay nag-reload, kaya mas maraming load ang mabibili mo sa iyong budget. At sa buwanang bayad na $89.4, ang Kabayan 5G ay hindi lamang malakas, ito rin ay abot-kaya.

At sa isang natatanging offer, kapag bumili ka ng mobile phone na 5G, ang unang tatlong buwan mong serbisyong 5G ay libre, upang maranasan mo ang mundo ng mabilis at maaasahang koneksyon.

Huwag palampasin ang pagkakataong yakapin ang lakas ng Kabayan 5G.

Bumisita sa website ng CMHK o sa inakamalapit na tindahan ng Ligo ngayon at nang maranasan mo ang pagkakaiba.

CMHK website: https://bit.ly/3QhoqGc

Mga Tindahan ng Ligo: Exclusive Distributor, Shop 355, 3/F World-wide House, No.19 Des Voeux Road, Central

HOTLINE: 2211 7799

Immigration arrests 9 persons in latest anti-illegal work operations

 

Immigration agents leading away 2 of the suspected illegal workers

Nine people, including eight suspected illegal worker and one employer, were arrested in the latest anti-illegal work operation of the Immigration Department conducted over four consecutive days, from May 20 to 23.

In a series of raids on 165 target establishments including massage parlours, premises under renovation and restaurants, seven suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested.

The suspected illegal workers comprised four men and three women, aged 31 to 52. One woman, aged 47, who was suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested.

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In a separate sweep of  15 business establishments in Central, one 62-year-old woman suspected of being an illegal worker, was arrested.

Immigration again warned that anyone who takes up work, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration, commits an offence, and could face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment.

Aiders and abettors are liable for the same offence and could face the same penalties.

TAWAG NA!

An illegal immigrant, overstayer or someone who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, who undertakes illegal work, could be jailed for up to three years and fined a maximum of $50,000.

Employers face up to 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of $500,000.

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Filipino charged with assaulting, intimidating wife walks free

 

The charges were dropped after the accused agreed to be bound over

A Filipino has walked free at Eastern Court after criminal cases of hurting his wife and threatening her with a knife were dropped as a result of a bind-over agreement.

B. Villanueva, 51, agreed to be bound over for two years, during which he promised not to commit any act of violence, or else he would be fined $2,000.

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He was originally charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm for allegedly hurting his wife, B. Acosta, in the flat they shared on Fook Gay Mansion on Lockhart Road in Wan Chai on Jan 6.

Further police investigation resulted in a criminal intimidation charge being added to his case.

In a hearing last May 22, the prosecution dropped both charges and Magistrate Stephanie Chui ordered the confiscation of the knife used as evidence against him.

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In a hearing last Jan 10, Vilanueva was told by Magistrate Ivy Chui to stay away from the Wan Chai flat where the alleged incident happened, and he must give another address to the court as part of conditions for his $500 bail.

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26 months in jail for illegal worker & 24 months for employer

The 2 men were among 20 persons arrested in anti-illegal work raids in December 2023

A Pakistani asylum seeker found to have obtained illegal work by using someone else’s HK ID card was ordered jailed for 26 months and 14 days by a Shatin court on Monday, May 21.

At the same time, a local resident who employed him was ordered imprisoned for 24 months and 14 days.

According to a statement issued by the Immigration Department, the unnamed Pakistani male aged 50 who held a recognizance form as a non-refoulement claimant was arrested on Dec. 13 last year during an anti-illegal work operation, as he was doing odd jobs in Tuen Mun.

While checking his identity, immigration officers found that he was in possession of a Hong Kong identity card relating to another person, which he also used to obtain illegal employment.

An additional charge of making false representation to Immigration officers was also filed against him as a result.

PINDUTIN DITO

The illegal worker was charged in court with one count of taking employment while subject to a removal order or deportation order; one count of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card relating to another person, and one count of making false representation to Immigration officers.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was convicted after trial.

Meanwhile, a local man aged 48 was also arrested for employing the illegal worker. He was also suspected of transferring an identity card to another person without reasonable excuse.

The Hong Kong resident pleaded not guilty but was convicted after trial of having employed an illegal worker as he did not take all practicable steps to determine if the applicant was lawfully employable.

He was also found guilty of transferring an identity card to another person without reasonable excuse.

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Immigration again warned that under section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business.

Offenders can be fined up to $50,000 and jailed for up to three years. The Court of Appeal has ruled that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.

Using or possessing a HKID card belonging to another or using one that was forged could result in the offender being jailed for up to 10 years in jail and fined a maximum of $100,000.

The same penalty applies to one who caused the transfer of an identity card to another person.

False representation to an immigration officer carries with it a more severe penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment and $150,000 fine.

Employers of illegal workers face up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. The sentencing guidelines also provide for the immediate custodial sentence for a convicted employer.

The guidelines also mandate the employers to take all practicable steps to ensure the worker is  is lawfully employable prior to employment, including checking the job seeker’s travel document if he/she does not have a permanent HKID.  

Failure to do so will not be accepted as a defense in criminal proceedings, and the offender can be jailed for up to a year and fined $150,000.

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11 overstayers and 4 illegal immigrants arrested in flat raid

The overstayers and illegal immigrants from the mainland are led away by Immigration agents

Immigration officers uncovered what appeared to be a safehouse for a number of illegal workers from mainland China during an afternoon raid on a residential flat in Yau Ma Tei.

According to a statement released by the Immigration Department on Wednesday, 11 overstayers and four illegal immigrants were arrested during the anti-illegal work operation.

Seventeen forged Hong Kong identity cards were also unearthed inside the flat, and during a preliminary investigation, it was found out that the ID cards were used by some of the people arrested in taking up illegal work.

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Immigration said an investigation on those managing the premises was ongoing, and that more arrests may be made.

The arrested overstayers comprised three men and eight women, aged 30 to 57, while the illegal immigrants comprised one man and three women, aged 28 to 61.

Among them, nine people – two men and seven women – were suspected of using the forged ID cards to obtain jobs.

TAWAG NA!

According to other media reports, the arrested illegal workers were paid up to twice the city’s legal minimum wage of $40 an hour for taking up odd jobs such as cleaners and dishwashers.

They were kept in the 500-square-foot subdivided flat on Reclamation Street which had four rooms, each with one of two bunk beds.

Immigration again warned that those who undertake illegal work face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors could be prosecuted and meted the same penalty.

Overstayers and illegal immigrants who take up work, whether paid or unpaid, or join in any business may be imprisoned for up to three years and fined up to $50,000.

Possessing a forged HK ID card or one belonging to another person can be jailed for up to 10 years and face a maximum fine of $100,000.

Employers of illegal workers are penalized more severely, with the fine going up to $500,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

All those engaged in illegal work are often meted an immediate custodial sentence.

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PCG warns of fake letter using its name and letterhead

 

The Consulate advisory about the fake letter

The Philippine Consulate General has posted a warning on its Facebook page about a letter using its letterhead being sent to Filipino domestic workers supposedly informing them about complaints made against them because of unpaid loans.

The letter urges the worker to “initiate a mediation” with the money lender or debt collector to come up with a mutually acceptable settlement of the loan.

If the worker wanted to dispute the loan, he or she could ask the Consulate to initiate an investigation., said the letter.

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However, this came with a warning that if the result of the investigation showed that the worker had committed a misconduct that caused the employer to be harassed, the employer could terminate the contract without paying compensation.

The letter further warned of “penalties and compensation”, including being blacklisted and prevented from working in Hong Kong again if the worker was found to have committed a misconduct that caused the employer being harassed.

Page 1 of the fake letter

In distancing itself from the letter, the PCG said it does not intervene on behalf of employers, money lending companies or individuals to recover a loan.

It urged anyone who receives the said letter to immediately inform the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate.

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“We have reported the case to the Hong Kong police force for investigation,” said the PCG's advisory.

The incident comes amid a rash of complaints from migrant workers who are being harassed by debt collectors for failing to pay their monthly loan repayments on time, even if this was caused by their work contracts being pre-terminated.

Page 2 of the letter with fake PCG letterhead

The collectors warn debtors that Immigration could revoke their employment visa, or reject their application for a new one, if they are reported as having failed to repay a loan.

However, no one gets imprisoned in Hong Kong for non-payment of loan, unless fraud is used to support the loan application, like presenting an expired employment contract.

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Filipina accused of stealing $1M from financing firm

 

Filipina was denied bail at Eastern Court

A Filipina resident failed in her bid to get bail after she appeared at Eastern Court yesterday, accused of stealing more than $1 million over three years from a company she worked for as a cashier.

May Ann Destajo, 36 years old, was accused of stealing $1,068,848 from Pacific Ace Finance Ltd., which is based at Wing On House in Central, from August 2020 to July 2023.

Her lawyer had offered a cash bail of $10,000, along with the promise to report to the Police regularly and not leave Hong Kong while the case is pending, but it was rejected.

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Magistrate Minnie Wat ctited the seriousness of the offense, the breach of trust and the strength of evidence against the defendant in rejecting the bail application.

Destajo was remanded in jail custody until the next hearing on July 17. But she was given another chance to get temporary freedom with a bail review on May 30.

Because of the amount involved, the theft case could be elevated to the District Court.

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DH charged for spending spree on employer’s credit card

 

Two of the purchases were made at Worldwide Plaza (photo from Google Maps)

A Filipina domestic helper was hauled to Eastern Court yesterday for allegedly stealing her employer’s credit card and then using it three times on her day off to dine and shop.

Maria Fe Narcisco, 32 years old, was charged with one count of theft and three counts of obtaining property by deception, in violation of the Theft Ordinance.

Her lawyer offered a bail of $2,000 in cash so she could be released from detention, with the promise to report to police regularly and surrender her passport, but it was was opposted by the prosecutor .

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Magistrate Minnie Wat sided with the prosecutor, saying there were sufficient gounds Narciso would not return to the court if freed on bail, having been terminated by her employer so she has no permanent address where she could be found.

Magistrate Wat also noted that she made an admission under caution during police investigation.

Narciso was thus remanded in jail custody until the next hearing on July 17, but Wat also scheduled a bail review on May 30.

Narciso is accused of stealing a Mastercard credit card issued by Bank of China to her employer, Au Shuk Chi, from the latter’s home in Sunway Garden in North Point last May 18.

She then allegedly used the card the next day, a Sunday, at the KFC restaurant in Shau Kei Wan Road, to pay for a lunch set.

Later that same day, she allegedly used the credit card to buy one gold ring from the Luvenus store in Worldwide Plaza, then proceeded to another store nearby, Friendly Jewelry, and bought another gold ring.

The charge sheet did not specify the amounts involved.

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86-year-old cabbie jailed for a year over Fortress Hill accident

Ngai's taxi was crushed after mowing down the 3 women, then hitting a lamppost on King's Rd

An 86-year-old taxi driver who injured four people, two of them seriously, after running a red light in Fortress Hill in March last year, was jailed for one year yesterday, Tuesday. 

Ngai Choi-nung pleaded guilty to a count of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm when he appeared before Deputy District Court Judge David Cheung, who blasted the octogenarian for his reckless and irresponsible driving.

The incident occurred at around 1 pm back on March 5 last year, when the taxi driven by Ngai and carrying a Filipino passenger was running down a slope along Fortress Hill Road and didn’t stop despite the red light at the junction with King’s Road.

TAWAG NA!

The taxi hit three women - a local Chinese, Indian and Filipina - before finally coming to a halt after ramming a lamp post, leaving it severely crushed.

The two Filipinos – one pedestrian and the passenger – were slightly injured.

However, the two other women, surnamed Singh and Chu, who were initially left in a coma due to their injuries, suffered long-lasting injuries. 

Singh suffered intracranial hemorrhage and fractures to her skull and left femur, while Chu sustained serious head injury and multiple bone fractures.

Both still regularly see specialists in neurology and orthopedics.

Ngai after his sentencing (The Standard photo)

In sentencing, Judge Cheung said that as a professional driver, Ngai had a social duty to ensure the safety of pedestrians as well as passengers. 

The judge rejected the defense’s case that Ngai had misread the traffic lights or accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake.

He said the defendant had sufficient time to check the traffic lights and observe road traffic. He also couldn’t explain why he didn’t see the red light.

In addition to the jail term of one year, the judge ordered Ngan’s licence suspended for two years and take a driving improvement course. However, the defense counsel said this was no longer necessary as Ngan had surrendered his license and no longer drives.

Earlier in mitigation, the defense counsel said Ngai had been working as a taxi driver since he retired at age 60 to take care of his sick wife and seven children, and was fined only twice.

His jail term was reduced to 12 months after the judge took note of Ngai’s guilty plea, his age and good background.

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