Pinay jailed 3 months for kicking dog

 

Sky Tower in To Kwa Wan (Google Maps photo)

For kicking a dog she was supposed to be taking care of as a domestic helper, A Filipina is now in jail for three months after being sentenced at the Kowloon City Court.

Leonyma Portelo, 38 years old, pleaded guilty when she appeared Tuesday (Jan. 13) before Magistrate Tsang Hing-tung, charged with cruelty to animal, a violation of section 3(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.

A complaint filed by the Kowloon City Police said the offense took place on Sept. 14 last year at her employer’s flat in Sky Tower, on Sung Wong Toi Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon.

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The police alleged that Portelo “cruelly kicked a dog and caused unnecessary suffering to the said dog.”

Meanwhile, at the Eastern Court, Rolando R. Ledesma, 56 years old, was jailed for two months after pleading guilty to managing a gambling establishment in North Point, contrary to section 5(b) of the Gambling Ordinance, which prohibits gambling in Hong Kong.

Ledesma, whose occupation was described as deliveryman/courier, was arrested on Sept. 6 at the gambling place at Flat B, 17/F, North Cape Commercial Building, 388 King's Road, North Point.

Prosecution told Principal Magistrate David Cheung that Ledesma has had 23 past convictions, six of them related to the gambling charge, the last of which was in 2023.

So despite the appeal of his defense lawyer for him to be spared of a non-custodial sentence, Magistrate Cheung chose a starting point of three months in jail, he deducted one month for Ledesma’s guilty plea.

Lea Salonga graces Disney’s 20th anniversary concert

 

Lea performs with full ensemble at Castle of Magical Dreams (RM Garcia's photo)

Broadway sensation and celebrated Filipina actress and singer Lea Salonga topbilled Hong Kong Disneyland’s celebration of its 20^th anniversary in a concert held at the park on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Lea, whose iconic singing voice left an indelible mark on Disney’s musical heritage with her rendition of “Reflection” from Mulan in 1998 and “A Whole New World” from Aladdin in 1992, performed in the one-night-only event, dubbed Disney Legend Live in Concert.

She also graced HK Disney’s stage during the park’s grand opening in 2005.

Lea sings with Ana and several of Disney's beloved princesses

Accompanied by the string ensemble from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Disneyland Band conducted by Maestro Gerard Salonga, Lea enthralled the audience, and made them relive the magic of timeless melodies of their favorite Disney films.

The concert unfolded against the enchanting backdrop of Castle of Magical Dreams, where Lea was joined by six beloved Disney princesses and a queen – Jasmine, Mulan, Tiana, Elsa, Cinderella and Pocahontas.

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Together, they performed favorite Disney classics which evoked themes of courage, love and magic.

Fellow Filipino singer and former Disney talent Gian Magdangal joined her in singing "A Whole New World." Video of that number is here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1186864653534581

 

Caning for scammers take effect in Singapore

 

Singapore hopes the caning will curb its growing problem with scams

Starting on Dec. 30 last year, convicted scammers in Singapore will be subject to up to 24 strokes of the cane, apart from the standard maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison plus fines.

The Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025 was passed on Nov 4, 2025, and includes caning for scams and scams-related offences.

Under the law, scammers, members and recruiters of scam syndicate face mandatory caning of at least six strokes. This can go up to 24 strokes depending on the severity of the crime.

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Discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes is also provided for scam mules, or those who provide their Singpass (like HKID cards in Hong Kong) credential, SIM cards or bank accounts to be used in scams.

This means that for those convicted of crimes under the second category, the courts are left to decide during sentencing if caning is needed.

Singapore law already provides for caning as a corporal punishment in crimes like vandalism, sexual offenses and robbery, but makes exemptions for women and those aged below 18, and over 50 years old.

The move underscores the gravity of Singapore’s problem with scams, including the huge losses incurred by victims. The introduction of scams for offenders is meant to further deter people from getting involved in the growing menace.

Since 2020, scam victims in Singapore are reported to have lost around S$3.8 billion (US$2.9 billion) to criminals who use phone calls and messaging, email and online schemes to rob them of their savings.

Last year, a record S$1.1billion (US$839.5M) was lost to swindlers by some 40,000 people in the city state.

According to Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann, scams now make up 60%, or more than half of all reported crimes in Singapore. The victims are from a diverse sector, including a Chinese actor and a widow from Illinois.

Filipinos are among those who have been found guilty of scams, or related offences. They include a Filipina who was jailed for two years for using fake PayNow screenshots to pay for food worth over S$9,000 at two Singapore restaurants.

A Filipina natioanl was among 12 people, mostly Singaporeans and Malaysians  who were charges with operating a scam sundicate operating out of Cambodia, but targeting people in Singapore. They're believed to be responsible for losses amountint to more than S$40 million.

Another Filipina was jailed for helping a fellow domestic worker transfer $$116,000 in funds linked to internet love scams targeting Singaporean women.

Even the Philippine Embassy in Singapore has warned of individuals using its name and logo to offer fake jobs online and collect exorbitant fees.

Defense in $8.8M money laundering case insists Filipina not complicit

Sentencing will be on Jan 26 at the District Court

 How can anyone be guilty of a crime she had no knowledge of?

This was the gist of the mitigation presented by the defense Monday, in the case of Filipina Lynie B. Acosta, who was found guilty after trial at the District Court last month, of laundering more than HK$8.83 million using three online bank accounts in her name.

District Judge Edward Wong deferred the sentencing to Jan. 26 after hearing from both sides in the case, saying he was looking at a starting point of four years in jail. (See this article for reasons for verdict: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=lynie+acosta)

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Despite Acosta’s conviction, her defense lawyer still vigorously argued that she had no knowledge of the crime she was charged with, and did not benefit from.

The defendant can only be punished for conspiracy if she was part of the gang that committed the offence, but there was no evidence to support that, insisted her lawyer.

Acosta, a 38-year-old widow who has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 2017, was convicted despite her claim that she had been tricked into presenting her HKID card to “Jane” and  two Chinese men she did not know, who paid her $400 and told her they would  register her for a “game.”

Her lawyer said that had her church not been closed that day in 2023, Acosta would not have been enticed to go to Tseung Kwan O and meet up with those strangers.

However, Judge Wong reminded him that he had already convicted Acosta after finding that she was part of an organized crime syndicate that laundered the HK$8.83 million, the biggest amount to have been linked to a migrant domestic worker charged with money laundering in Hong Kong.

Defense said it was not right for the judge to just look at the amount involved in the crime, as Acosta had no knowledge or control over money that went into the bank accounts opened in her name.

“Her acts were minimal, short-lived, and would not have happened if her church was not closed that Sunday,” the defense said.

In any case, any sentence that would be imposed should not exceed two years, he argued.

Judge Wong told both parties to study a Court of Appeal case where the sentencing guidelines were set for money laundering cases, in which the amount involved was cited as a determining factor.

He ordered Acosta returned to jail until her sentencing.

 

$3.1M worth of marijuana lands Filipina tourist in jail

 

Marijuana buds seized by Customs (Customs photo)

A Filipina tourist who arrived from Bangkok and charged with drug trafficking after 15.5 kilos of cannabis (marijuana) buds were found in her checked-in luggage, was returned to jail today after appearing at the West Kowloon Court.

Ma Cristina Fernandez, 28 years old who listed her occupation as “freelancer”, has been in detention since her arrest last Oct. 18, 2025 at a baggage examination counter at the Customs Arrival Hall B at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Principal Magistrate Don So remanded her after adjourning to March 11 her case of violating sections 4 (1) (a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

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The Customs and Excise Department, which filed the complaint against Fernandez, said she was one of two women arrested separately on that day for bringing in a total of 26 kilos of marijuana, with an estimated market value of about $5.2 million.

In the first case. Customs officers found about 15.5kg of suspected cannabis buds in Fernandez’s check-in baggage, worth an estimated $3.1 million. She was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 26-year-old female passenger also arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 10.5kg of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.1 million, in her check-in baggage. She was also arrested.

In a press statement, the department reminded members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return.

“They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people,” it added.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.