Migrant workers warned anew against sharing their HKIDs for fee

 

The Philippine Consulate posted this warning against sharing one's HKID card only last June

Never share your Hong Kong ID card and other personal documents with anyone in exchange for money, no matter how tempting or seemingly harmless the offer, as it would most likely lead you to jail.

This warning, repeatedly made by the Philippine Consulate and by the Hong Kong Police over the years, is being brought to the fore again, after a group of Filipino domestic workers was again lured to sharing their HKIDs and work contracts in exchange for HK$1,000.

This information was shared with The SUN by one of its readers, a Filipina domestic worker who said her friend was taken somewhere in Tsuen Wan on Jan. 4 where her HKID and contract were copied, after which she was paid $1,000.

DETAILS HERE

This friend, in turn, sent her a chat message asking her if she was interested in doing the same thing, and offered to take her to the same place. The HKID and contract details were supposed to be used for registering with an Indonesian SIM card.

“Pero nag-alanganin ako kasi sa mga nababasa ko sa news ninyo about money laundering,” said R.Q., who sent out the alert about the new identity theft scam. (But I hesitated because of what I have been reading in your news reports about money laundering).

R.Q. relayed her concern to her friend, who instantly got alarmed and scared at the prospect that her personal information would be used by syndicates in opening a bank account in her name, and then use this to launder money.

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“Yan din nga ang sinabi ko sa kanya, bakit di nila naisip na bibigyan sila ng ganoon kalaki na halaga kapalit ng picture ng ID at kontrata nila,” said R.Q. (That’s exactly what I told her. They should have wondered why they’d be given that much money for merely sharing pictures of their HKID card and contract).

R.Q. was told to bring her friend to the Consulate as soon as possible so they can be helped in reporting the matter to the police, and possibly prevent the syndicate from using the friend’s identity to launder dirty money or commit another serious crime.

Just last June, an OFW was sentenced to 22 months in prison after $2.2 million was discovered to have passed through her accounts with two online banks. Despite the OFW’s claim that she merely lent her HKID card so she could be registered for an online game, the judge was not convinced.

Read the story here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=filipina+jailed+22+months

Tomorrow, Jan. 12, another Filipina found to have dealt with $8.8 million in her three bank accounts, the biggest amount ever linked to a foreign domestic worker in a money laundering case, is due to be sentenced at the High Court.

She failed to convince the judge that she did not know that her HKID card would be used to open the bank accounts through which the tainted money had passed.

She claimed the syndicate behind the crime had made her believe she was only registering her personal information for an online game. The story is here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/2025/12/district-court-finds-filipina-guilty-of.html

2 Pinays held for theft of $940K and $891K

 

Illustrative photo created with deevid.ai

Two Filipina domestic helpers charged with theft amounting to $940,000 and $891,000, respectively, have been sent to jail to await their next court hearings in the next two months.

Principal Magistrate Don So remanded Analyn Bordios in jail last Wednesday (Jan. 7) after he adjourned the case to March 18 at West Kowloon Court.

DETAILS HERE

Bordios, 44 years old, is accused by police of violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, Cap. 210 for the theft committed between June 13 and Nov. 5 last year at her employer’s flat  in Belvedere Garden on Castle Peak Road in Tsuen Wan.

The police complaint accused her of stealing 42 pieces of gold ornaments (19 bracelets, two necklaces, 18 pendants and three rings), 300 British pounds in cash, $10,000 euros in cash and $3,000 Swiss francs for a total value of about HK$940,000; the property of Wong Cheuk Kiu.

Basahin ang detalye!

At the Kowloon City Court, Magistrate Tsang Hing-tung ordered Janice Plasencia detained until her next court hearing on Feb. 3, for theft she was accused of committing between March 19, 2023 and Oct. 28 last year at her employer;s flat on La Salle Road, Kowloon City.

Plasencia, , 44 years old, allegedly stole nine diamond rings, two pairs of diamond earrings, ten gold necklaces, eight bracelets and one gold coin with a total value of $891,000, the property of Ching Po Shun Portia.

 

 

 

PAL's new safety video filmed telenovela style draws raves

 

Still from an iconic scene in the video

Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country’s flagship carrier, is receiving widespread accolades for its new safety video written and filmed in telenovela format, and showcasing some of the Philippines’ top tourist attractions.

View the much talked-about promotional video dubbed #PALSafetynovela here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UkTBuEx-ek

The video uses the Filipinos’ penchant for warching telenovelas to make instructions for in-flight safety procedures more entertaining and riveting to its passengers.

DETAILS HERE

The video which is set in some of the breathtaking places in the Philippines such as the perfectly-shaped Mayon Volcano, the chocolate hills of Bohol, white-sand beaches and lush farmlands, is now showing onboard PAL’s first A350-1000 and will be played soon in all its aircraft within the month.

Since it was uploaded on YouTube on Dec 31, 2025, the video has garnered nearly 2 million views, more than 20,000 likes and over 1,500 comments which have been nearly all favorable.

Here are some of the comments:

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“Passengers usually ignore inflight safety videos but this will really get eyes glued on screen because of how original the concept is for safety videos. Clever way to educate passengers!”

“PAL should seriously consider a 10-year series where, every year, people will surely choose.”

“(Heart emoji) Philippine Airlines just to see what will happen in the next episode.”

“The fact that there is such a dramatic scene but everyone is wearing life vests is hysterical.”

“I love how this safety novela unapologetically leans into one aspect of Filipino culture - DRAMA! Good job! It's unique, definitely, and well produced.”

“This was soooo good because it wasn't too artsy (not that it needed) or anything fancy. The fact that they even fitted the exact plane seats in an old house (instead of people imagining it) adds more fun to it. THE LIFEVEST TEAR WAS THE BIG WINNER. Kudos to everyone! I wish they would refresh this with more sequel of these more frequently - but I do know this takes time and money so I'm still a happy one.”

“PAL is doing better at showcasing our country’s culture and tourist attractions than our Department of Tourism (laughing emojis).

 

Two main protagonists confront each other with Mayon Volcano as backdrop

“Whoever proposed and wrote this definitely DESERVES A RAISE! Absolute Cinema (handclapping emoji)

“It's so clever that when the flight attendant tells the audience "please ask a cabin crew member for assistance" the actress behind her interrupts her and asks for assistance”

“This might well be the best safety video I've ever seen in my life! Well done Philippines from Turkey!”

“The oxygen scene is precious. No safety briefing has more twists than this!!! This is as unique as it gets! Filipino humor has no comparison. And the music, the music! I bet no safety video has shed more tears and stomach pain from laughing at the same time!”

“Tawang tawa ako nung umilaw yung light nung life vest nung nabasa ng mga luha ni Diego” laughing emojis. (I laughed so much when the life vest lit up when it got wet by Diego’s tears).

 “PAL THIS IS ABSOLUTE CINEMA”

 “As a Filipino, this catches attention, shows the latest safety, and shows how beautiful our country is. I really thought that an airline won't include or mention the powerbank and loosening of seatbelt, but here we are. Proud na proud ako sa aking bansa! :) (I am so proud of my country)”

What do you think?

 

 

 

Pinoy Games fest set this Sunday

 

Event will be held at the Oxford Road Playground in Kowloon Tong

Philippine Alliance Hong Kong in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General, will hold its first Pinoylympics this Sunday, Jan. 11 at Oxford Road Playground in Kowloon Tsai.

The friendly competition that is open to all Pinoys in Hong Kong will feature traditional Filipino games like kadang-kadang, sipa, piko, luksong lubid, patintero, tumbang preso and sungka, plus other favorite recreational sports like chess, basketball, volleyball and cheerdance.

There will also be a competition among the team’s muses dressed in Inabel attire.

DETAILS HERE

Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr will be the guest of honor at the event, which will be opened with a torch lighting by PhilAlliance chairman Dante Berido.

The event will open with a call for assembly at 8:30am but the games will officially start at 10:30am. The games will resume after lunch at 1pm, and continue until 3pm.

PhilAlliance says the event aims to promote fitness, team spirit and a healthy competition among participants.

Basahin ang detalye!

Those who have signed up to compete are asked to go directly to Oxford Playground by taking the MTR to Kowloon Tong. Take exit D, then get onto the 25A, 25B or 25M mini bus and alight at the De La Salle Primary School stop to get to the playground.

For more information please call the following numbers on WhatsApp: Marie Rivera at 53049835 or Gie at +63 995232348.

Filipina jailed 5 months for infant abuse

 

The Filipinas was ordered jailed by an Eastern Court magistrate

A Filipino domestic helper identified in court documents only as A.J.B., was sentenced to five months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of ill-treatment of a child in Eastern Court on Friday.

The 41-year-old helper admitted to pulling the limbs of her 11-month-old ward, then pushing her onto the bed, causing the child’s head to hit the mattress. The incidents were recorded on home surveillance video.

In mitigation, A.J.B., who had been employed for less than three months by her employer who lives in Happy Valley, said she had difficulty adjusting to her work environment.

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Through her counsel, the helper also said she was remorseful, and that a medical assessment showed the baby suffered no severe injuries.

Nevertheless, Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai condemned the helper’s actions, noting the child’s age made her particularly vulnerable.

He also said the incidents were not isolated, as the CCTV footage showed the defendant repeatedly pulling the baby’s limbs and striking her back. This, he said, indicated a serious violation of trust that warranted an immediate custodial sentence.

The abuse was uncovered on Nov 25 last year after the child’s grandmother saw an unusual shaking in the baby, who also vomited. The grandmother alerted the infant’s mother, who immediately checked the home’s CCTV and saw what had happened.

The police were called and A.J.B. was arrested.

In sentencing, the magistrate used a starting point of seven and a half months or prison, then reduced it to five months on account of the defendant’s guilty plea.

The court was previously told that the baby was born in December 2024, and that the helper was hired to work in the household in August 2025.

Pinay cleared of illegal work

 

Filipina was arrested here (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper who fought an Immigration Department charge that she breached her condition of stay by working in a flower shop, emerged victorious today after she was found not guilty at Shatin Court.

Susan Francisco, 47 years old, heaved a sigh of relief after Magistrate Raymond Wong made the ruling to conclude her two-day trial.

She promptly retrieved her $20,000 bail from the court cashier.

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Francisco was accused of violating section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance after she was arrested on Aug. 21 last year.

Immigration accused her of performing odd jobs on the second floor of the Eastern Flower Center on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

It alleged that she contravened “a condition of stay in force in respect of you imposed by an Immigration Assistant on 4 August 2025” which required her to “only take such employment as approved by the Director of Immigration, namely, to work as a domestic helper....”

However, Magistrate Wong said the prosecution failed to prove Francisco’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Wearing of seat belts on public transport mandatory from Jan 25

Passengers must use seat belts provided in all public transport

The government today reminded the public that starting on Jan 25, all seated passengers on public transport and commercial vehicles must wear seatbelts if they are installed.

All vehicle owners, drivers or passengers found to have violated this requirement will be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to three months. 

Drivers will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 if a passenger aged under 15 is found seated in the rear seat of a goods vehicle, or the passenger’s seat of a special purpose vehicles (SPVs).

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At the same time, all drivers must not to place more than two mobile telephones, tablets or computers in front of them, while driving. In any case, the diagonal length of each device should not exceed 19 centimeters. Offenders shall be subjected to a maximum fine of $2,000.

The requirements are part of the government’s renewed effort to enhance road, passenger and driving safety.

According to studies cited by the government, wearing seat belts will reduce the risk of death and serious injury of drivers and passengers in head-on collisions by about 40 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

To ensure compliance, all passengers’ seats in public and private buses, rear passenger seats in private light buses and goods vehicles and all seats of special purpose vehicles are required to have seat belts installed when first registered on or after Jan. 25.

Drivers and passengers occupying the seats of these vehicles, whether newly registered or not, where seat belts are fitted, are required to wear them.

Around 60% of all existing buses have been retrofitted with seat belts

The government said that in franchised buses, all seats in newly procured buses have been equipped with seat belts. Around 3,500 existing double-deck buses have also been retrofitted with seat belts, representing about 60% of the entire fleet in Hong Kong.

For details of the new requirements on seat belts, please log on to www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/sb and on placing MTDs during driving, to www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/mtd or the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk). Alternatively, they may call the hotline, 2804 2600.

 

 

 

Pinay jailed 14 months in latest money laundering case

 

 Shatin Court

A domestic helper who pleaded not guilty to two counts of money laundering due to "dirty" money passing through her bank accounts, has failed to convince the Shatin Court of her innocence during trial, and was sentenced to a total of 14 months’ imprisonment.

At the conclusion of the trial on Wednesday (Jan. 7), Magistrate Jeffrey Sze rejected the defense of Maylen Macabangon, 47 years old, that she had no participation in the deposit and withdrawal of some $245,000 from illicit sources using her bank accounts.

The first charge filed by the Police Anti-Deception Unit alleged that Macabangon handled $67,500 through her Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, account between 27 and 27 of January 2022, “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.”

Basahin ang detalye!

In the second charge, Police alleged that Macabangon handled $217,573.31 the her account with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited between March 26, 2022 and June 18, 2022.

Magistrate Sze sentenced her to nine months’ jail for the first charge of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25 (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

He also jailed her for 12 months for the second charge.

But since he ordered the first seven months of the first charge to run at the same time as the second, the sentences added up to 14 months.

Cold snap in HK to last until Friday

 

More cold days are forecast ahead for HK (File photo)

The temperature in Hong Kong dipped to 10.9 degrees this morning, the lowest so far this winter. The cold spell is expected to last until Friday, after which the weather will gradually become milder.

The Hong Kong Observatory said the mornings will be cold until Friday, when temperatures will drop to between 10 and 11 degrees in the urban areas, and a few degrees lower in the New Territories.

The rest of the day will be pleasant, with temperatures rising to around 17 degrees.

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The Observatory said the big temperature difference between day and night will be felt throughout the region, and is caused by a dry winter monsoon affecting Guangdong over the next few days.

The strong monsoon and cold weather combined is causing the red fire danger warning to be raised, meaning the risk of fire is extremely high.

The cold spell earlier prompted the Observatory to issue the cold weather warning for the first time this year.

It warned of more cold days ahead, with temperatures dropping to between 12 degrees or below between nine and 17 days this winter and spring.

This is significant because there had only been seven cold-weather days last year, meaning the number of cold days ahead could be higher than usual.

 

 

 

 

 

DH admits stealing 10 watches then misleading police

 

Estate where theft took place

A domestic helper has pleaded guilty at the District Court to two charges of stealing a total of 10 watches from her employer, and then misleading the police by falsely reporting a burglary on their house in Kowloon Tong.

But Deputy District Judge Pang Leung-ting, in a hearing on Monday (Jan. 5), put off the sentencing of Vanessa Vallespin, 39 years old, to Jan. 20. In the meantime, he ordered her returned to jail.

The case began at the Kowloon City Court early last year before being elevated to the District Court because of the seriousness of the charges.

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In the first charge, Vallespin was accused of stealing a watch from her male employer Gary Lau at Sunderland Estate in Kowloon Tong on Dec. 2, 2024, according to information filed by the Kowloon City Police.

Two days later, she stole nine more watches belonging to the employer.

On the same day, she "knowingly misled" a police officer by giving false information about the house being burgled by unknown persons.

Section 64(b) of the Police Force Ordinance penalizes such offence with a fine at level 1 ($2,000) and imprisonment for six months.

Sentence put off for Pinay who admitted laundering $869K

 

File photo

A Filipina will need to wait for more than two weeks to find out what her sentence will be after pleading guilty at Kwun Tong Court to laundering $868,847.54 of crime money through her bank account.

In a hearing on Monday Jan. 5), Nhona Esmana, 37 years old, admitted dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Magistrate Lau Suk-han adjourned the case against Esmana to Jan. 21 for sentencing and remanded her in jail.

Basahin ang detalye!

The case arose from the HK$868,847.54 that passed through her account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between March 13, 2020 and June 4, 2020, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that property… represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence,” according to the complaint of Tseung Kwan O Police.

Meanwhile, two separate money laundering cases heard today at Fan Ling Court were headed to the District Court.

The two charges against Nash Efraim Dalligos, 18 years old, were elevated to the District Court by Principal Magistrate Veronica Heung today after granting him bail of $20,000.

Magistrate Heung adjourned the case to Jan 22.

Dalligos is accused of dealing with $100,000 last Aug. 12, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it was derived from crime.

In the second charge, he allegedly handled $70,000 of crime money on the same day.

It appears he handled the money directly and not through bank accounts, making the charge more serious

The other case was against Daisy Pueyo, 43 years old, whose Standard Chartered Bank (HK) Limited account was used to launder HK$4,002,482,22 of crime money between Jan. 15, 2024 and March 31, 2024.

The case will likely be elevated to the District Court because the possible punishment for the amount involved, in case of conviction, is above the limit set for a magistrate court such as Fan Ling: a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.

Magistrate Heung adjourned the case to Feb. 23 and returned Pueyo to jail.

20 people arrested in anti-illegal work raids targeting FDHs

 

Some of those arrested are herded onto an Immigration van

A four-day operation targeting foreign domestic helpers working illegally resulted in 20 people being arrested, though only one turned out to be a current helper.

Of those arrested in the raids carried out from January 3 to 6, 12 were suspected of working illegally while the other eight were locals who employed them.

The suspected illegal workers comprised three men and nine women, aged 24 to 60, and were either Filipinos or Indonesians.

Basahin ang detalye!

Apart from the currently employed FDH, two were former FDHs who had overstayed their visas, three held recognizance documents that prevent them from taking any job, one was a visitor, and five were overstaying visitors.

The eight suspected employers on the other hand, comprised seven men and one woman aged 30 to 68, and included persons who managed the companies or restaurants involved.

According to Immigration investigators, the suspected illegal workers were found working in restaurants, a guesthouse and a food plant, doing such odd jobs as dishwashing, cleaning, or handling food for distribution.

Some of the items seized in the first anti-illegal work operation in 2026

Special mention was made of five Indonesians aged 24 to 52, who were found working illegally in a food factory in Kwai Chung, where they were each paid a mere $200 a day.

The plant was said to have functioned as a food supply chain for a restaurant specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine, and was staffed entirely by low-paid illegal workers to cut down on costs.

Immigration said its investigation is continuing, and further arrests may be made.

It also reiterated that illegal work is a serious offence in Hong Kong for which a jail term is inevitably imposed.

Employers of illegal workers face the heftiest sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. All employers are obliged by law to determine as far as practicable whether a job applicant is qualified to work in Hong Kong.

Under sentencing guidelines issued by the High Court, an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable for anyone found to have employed illegal workers.

Those who violated their visa conditions by taking up unauthorized work can be sentenced for up to two years in prison and fined $50,000. The maximum prison sentence goes up to three years if the offender is an illegal immigrant or an overstayer.

 

Easter Monday made statutory holiday from this year

 

HK will now have 15 statutory holidays

Starting this year, Easter Monday (or the day after Easter Sunday) will become one of the statutory holidays in Hong Kong, to make a total of 15 days. 

A statutory holiday in Hong Kong is a legally protected day off for all employees (including foreign domestic helpers) under the Employment Ordinance, which ensures that they get to take a break without loss of pay.

They are differentiated from the 17 public holidays or bank holidays in a year, which are also paid holidays but are not specifically part of employment rights. By 2030, all the public holidays will become statutory holidays in accordance with a provision in the Employment Ordinance passed in 2021.

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This year, the 15 statutory holidays include apart from Easter Monday, the three days of Lunar New Year, Labour Day and Christmas.

The 15 statutory holidays for 2026 are:

1.	The first day of January	1 January
2.	Lunar New Year's Day	17 February
3.	The second day of Lunar New Year	18 February
4.	The third day of Lunar New Year	19 February
5.	Ching Ming Festival	5 April
6.	Easter Monday*	6 April
7.	Labour Day	1 May
8.	The Birthday of the Buddha	24 May
9.	Tuen Ng Festival	19 June
10.	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day	1 July
11.	The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival	26 September
12.	National Day	1 October
13.	Chung Yeung Festival	18 October
14.	Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day (at the option of the employer)	22 December or 25 December
15.	The first weekday after Christmas Day	26 December

Please note:

All employees are entitled to the statutory holidays. If the statutory holiday falls on a rest day, a holiday should be granted on the day following the rest day which is not a statutory holiday or an alternative holiday or a substituted holiday or a rest day. An employee having been employed under a continuous contract for not less than 3 months is entitled to the holiday pay which is equivalent to the average daily wages earned by the employee in the 12-month period preceding the holiday.

Reference example:

An employee is granted rest days on Sundays. As the Chung Yeung Festival (18 October) falls on Sunday, the employer should grant a holiday on the next day (i.e. 19 October), but this day should not be a statutory holiday or an alternative holiday or a substituted holiday or a rest day.