Filipina claiming torture from husband, gives up 3-year bid to stay in HK

 

Judicial review applications are always lodged with the High Court

A Filipina former domestic worker who overstayed her visa in Hong Kong in 2019, then proceeded to file a claim for non-refoulement on the basis of torture, has given up her application to remain in the city, saying she was no longer in harm’s way.

Accordingly, High Court Judge Bruno Chan handed down a decision yesterday, July 24, dismissing her application for a judicial review of the order denying her bid to remain in the city.

J.M., 35 years old, had sought asylum status in Hong Kong in May, 2022 after surrendering for overstaying her visa for three years. She claimed that her husband in the Philippines would harm her after learning of her long-running affair with another man in Hong Kong.

Basahin ang detalye!

J.M, who is married and has three children with her husband in Batangas, said it was her lover who told her husband about their affair after she jilted him for abusing her.

After learning about the affair, JM's husband allegedly called her up and threatened to kill her if she returned to the Philippines. That was the reason she decided to surrender to Immigration and raised her non-refoulement claim, said the Filipina.

But on Aug. 31, 2022 the Director of Immigration ruled that there was no evidence of any real intention on the part of her husband to seriously harm or kill JM, but only uttered angry words and empty threats.

In addition, the Director said there was no record of any past ill-treatments from the husband, and in any event, it was a private domestic dispute between the two of them, and did not involve the state or the authorities.

If she decided to go back home, she could easily move far from her husband as the Philippines has a vast territory, with a functioning security and judicial system.

The applicant appealed the decision to the Torture Claims Adjudication Board (TCAB) but this was also dismissed on July 12, 2023.

On Aug 21 of the same year, J.M. filed an application for leave for a judicial review of the Director and TCAB’s decisions copies of which she attached, but without citing any grounds.

“As such, and in the absence of any error of law or irrationality or procedural unfairness in her process before the Board or in its decision being clearly and properly identified by the Applicant, I do not find any reasonably arguable basis for her intended challenge,” said Judge Chan.

The judge then noted that J.M. had written to the court on Apr 11 this year, requesting that her application for leave be canceled, saying it was now safe for her to return to the Philippines.

Given that he found no reasonable prospect of success for the applicant’s intended application for judicial review and her own confirmation that she could now safely return home, the judge dismissed the case.

 

16-year-old detained for rape, publishing child pornography

 

X

Entrance of building where offenses were allegedly committed (Google Maps photo)

A 16-year-old Filipino was returned to jail after the adjournment of his rape and publishing child pornography cases at the Eastern Court.

L.U. is accused of raping X on Feb. 14 at a room in Bonham Commercial Centre on Bonham Strand  Road in Sheung Wan, in violation of section 118(1) of the Crimes Ordinance.

He is also accused of publishing eight nude photos of X between Feb. 7 and March 21 this year in violation of section 3(2) of the Child Pornography Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

In a hearing last Tuesday (July 22), prosecution asked Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung to adjourn the case pending results of the forensic examination by the government laboratory and for further legal advice  from the Justice Department.

Magistrate Cheung scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 16.

Since he had no application for bail, the long-haired youth was remanded in jail custody. But Cheung reminded him he has the right to go to the High Court and apply for bail.

No work or school across Luzon as typhoon Emong slams into Pangasinan

 

PAGASA highlights parts of Luzon that will experience heavy rains and possible flooding

Classes and offices have been ordered shut again this Friday in Metro Manila and 34 provinces across the Philippines with the approach of Typhoon Emong (international name: Co-may).

The Philippines’ national bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said the typhoon made landfall in Agno, Pangasinan province at 10:40pm Thursday night.

Emong was packing a maximum wind speed of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 165 kph while slowly moving to the east when it slammed into Agno.

Basahin ang detalye!

It is expected to hit ground twice as it crosses Northern Luzon, before emerging over Babuyan channel by Friday morning or noon.

PAGASA forecasts heavy rains in many parts of Luzon until Sunday evening due to the combined effects of typhoon Emong and the southwest monsoon. It warned floods and landslides are possible in the affected areas.

Earlier on Thursday, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced the suspension of classes and work in Metro Manila and 34 provinces, many of which are just recovering from massive flooding brought about by monsoon rains and typhoon Crising (international name Wipha).

The provinces included in the suspension are Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Apayao, Cagayan, Kalinga, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan.

DILG Secretary , Jonvic Remulla said in the advisory that government frontline workers are not included in the work suspension order.

Flooding on Taft Avenue earlier this week due to monsoon rains (PhilStar) 

Meanwhile, PAGASA raised typhoon signals 4 to 1 across Luzon, depending on the wind speed in each area:

Signal No 4, (with winds between 118 and 184 kilometers per hour in the next 12 hours) was raised over the Ilocos region, including the following: Southwestern portion of La Union (Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, City of San Fernando, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo, Santo Tomas); western portion of Ilocos Sur (Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Tagudin); northern portion of Pangasinan (Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Anda, City of Alaminos, Burgos, Dasol, Mabini, Sual).

Signal No 3, indicating wind speed of between 89 and 117 kph, in the next 18 hours, was hoisted over the rest of Ilocos Sur and La Union, as well as the following: southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Nueva Era, City of Batac, Marcos, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Pinili, Badoc); central portion of Pangasinan (Lingayen, Bugallon, Infanta, Dagupan City, San Fabian, Binmaley, Labrador, Sison, Pozorrubio, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mapandan, San Carlos City, Aguilar); Abra, western portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Sagada, Bauko); western portion of Benguet (Sablan, Kapangan, Mankayan, Tuba, Bakun, Kibungan) and extreme northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz)

Signal No 2, with winds between 62 and 88 kph in the next 24 hours, is in force in the rest of Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, northern portion of Zambales (Masinloc, Candelaria, Palauig, Iba); Apayao, Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands; northern and western portions of Isabela (Cordon, City of Santiago, Ramon, San Isidro, Alicia, San Mateo, Cabatuan, San Manuel, Luna, Aurora, Burgos, Roxas, Quirino, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Cabagan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, Gamu, Ilagan City, City of Cauayan, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian); northwestern portion of Quirino (Diffun), western and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Santa Fe, Ambaguio, Aritao, Bambang, Bayombong, Villaverde, Solano, Bagabag, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi); northwestern portion of Nueva Ecija (Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Lupao, Carranglan, Guimba); northern portion of Tarlac (Mayantoc, Santa Ignacia, Gerona, Pura, Ramos, Anao, San Manuel, Moncada, Paniqui, Camiling, San Clemente)

Signal No 1, with wind speed of between 39 and 61 kph in the next 36 hours is hoisted over the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales, as well as the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis); western and central portions of Pampanga (Porac, Floridablanca, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, Magalang, Mexico, Bacolor, City of San Fernando, Santa Rita, Guagua, Arayat, Lubao, Santa Ana); northern portion of Bataan (Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Morong); and the rest of Zambales

 

Migrante launches fund-raising drive for Phl flood victims

 

Several groups led by United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong have reactivated its “Operation Migrante Sagip Kababayan” fund-raising drive for those affected by severe flooding in the Philippines, caused by monsoon rains and typhoon Crising (international name, Wipha), which intensified as it slammed into Hong Kong last Sunday.

The severe flooding continues in many parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila; as well as the Visayas, even as another typhoon named Dante is expected to hit the Philippines over the week.

Preliminary estimates by the Department of Agriculture’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Centre (DRRMOC) show that at least P333 million worth of rice, corn and  high crops as well as livestock, and poultry have been lost due to the floods.

Basahin ang detalye!

At least six people have been killed and six others are missing.

The Migrante-led relief operation is asking for cash donations for faster assistance to flood victims though they are also accepting much-needed goods like ready-to-eat food, medicines, diapers and personal hygiene supplies.

For donations, please see the attached poster or contact the numbers of the people indicated at the bottom. 

Goods may be dropped off at Chater Road on the two coming Sundays, or at the office of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants at No 2 Jordan Road, Kowloon HK. They can be reached at telephone number  25237536. 

Donation in any amount or, or any of the requested goods, will be greatly appreciated, said relief coordinator Dolores T. Balladares.

 

 

DH jailed 50 days for going into business

 

Immigration Department

Going into business while working under a domestic helper’s visa can get you in serious trouble with the law.

An Indonesian domestic helper learned this lesson Wednesday (July 23) when she was jailed for 50 days after pleading guilty to breach of condition of stay, in violation of section 4 of the Immigration Ordinance and by virtue of Regulation 2 of the Immigration Regulations.

Julita Neiske, 29 years old, admitted at Shatin Court that she established a business selling health products between the 20^th and 27^th of August 2023.

Basahin ang detalye!

The complaint filed by the Immigration Department said she contravened a condition of stay which required her to work exclusively as a domestic helper at the address of her employer.

The Immigration Ordinance punishes such offense with a maximum fine of Level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for up to two years.

High Court paves way for transgenders to use public toilets matching their identity

 

Court outlawed ban on use of opposite-sex public toilets

A High Court judge has ordered that a law criminalizing the use by transgenders of public toilets designated for the opposite sex be struck down for violating the minority group’s equality and privacy rights.

In his landmark judgment handed down today, Judge Russell Coleman ruled in favor of “X,” a transgender man who challenged the city’s public convenience regulations, which prohibits anyone aged five and above from using toilets allocated to the opposite sex.

The judge said “drawing the line” of a person’s biological sex at birth results in a “disproportionate and unnecessary” intrusion into privacy and equality rights, and contravenes the Basic Law and Hong Kong’s Bill of Rights.

Basahin ang detalye!

But he said it would not be appropriate for the courts to distinguish between a “female person” and a “male person,” saying this should be a matter for legislation.

He gave the government up to a year to come up with a solution to end the contravention.

“I suppose the view could be taken that, as with other conveniences accessible by the public (but privately managed), there are other offences which can be used to deter and punish improper conduct,” Judge Coleman said.

"This is a matter of the line-drawing, which seems to me to be a question for the government or legislature to address."

The government was given 28 days to appeal the decision.

"K" had sought to amend the wording of the Public Conveniences (Conduct and Behaviour) Regulation, which bans people aged five or above from facilities allocated to their opposite sex. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000 on summary conviction.

K was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in 2017. When he launched the legal challenge in 2022 he was holding a “gender identity letter” from a doctor that certified he is to be treated as male in social contexts, and that using gender-specified facilities is an important part of his transition.

K argued that his constitutional rights were violated by the prohibition against him using public toilets designated for men.

He asked for the regulation to be changed so pre-operative transgender people who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria like him can use toilets that correspond to their preferred gender.

The government opposed his claim, arguing that public toilet access rules protect other users' rights, including privacy and security, as well as societal expectations.

 

The decision marks another victory for groups advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Hong Kong, including a landmark ruling in 2023 that said that full reassignment surgery should not be required before transgender people can have their gender changed on their official identity cards.

 

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Dami kang e-top up sa SIM dami kang chance manalo. Kung SmarTone ka na at may My SIM Account app ka na, i-Open lang app, press link http://wap.smartone.com/bssapp at para rin ma-install kung wala ka pang app. 

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Items lost at MTR can now be claimed through SF Express

 

Photo from the MTR website

Passengers who lost items at the MTR can now choose to retrieve them through home delivery by SF Express or pick up at any of its 1,000 collection points throughout the city.

This follows the signing of a deal between the MTR and SFE earlier today, Tuesday.

A fee of $28 will be charged passengers who choose to have their lost items delivered by SFE to their home address, SF stores or lockers through a “pay by receiver” arrangement.

The MTR Lost Property Office will arrange delivery based on the information provided by the passenger concerned with a notification email to follow upon completion of the order. 

Basahin ang detalye!

But the service is limited to items weighing less than 15 kilograms, and do not include cash, valuables, perishable goods and those that are restricted under SFHK’s delivery terms. Owners of such items will still have to personally appear at designated MTR stations for verification.

MTR said it receives around 12,000 reports about lost property on average each month, and are able to find 8,300 properties of these items. . 

The most common items misplaced are Octopus cards, handbags, umbrellas and trendy items like cartoon character plushies and accessories.

Anyone who loses an item on the MTR may report it online through this link: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/main/LPM_PICS.php or call 2861 0020 during office hours. 

If you find any lost property on MTR premises, please leave it with staff at the station where you exit or change trains.

 

 

Ethnic minorities targeted in Mong Kok job fair

 

Fire Services Department earlier held a recruitment drive for EM women

More than 2,300 job vacancies will be offered at “Building a Multicutural Workplace Job Fair” which targets members of ethnic minorities and promotes the Labour Department’s employment services to them.

The event will be held at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok over two days, July 24 and 25, or this coming Thursday and Friday, from 11:30 am to 5pm. Entrance is free.

About 50 organizations will take part, and 25 of them will set up booths and conduct recruitment at the job fair, offering over 2,300 “quality job vacancies.”

Basahin ang detalye!

The positions that will be offered include engineer, accountant, human resources officer, guest services officer, administrative assistant, clerk, aircraft maintenance mechanic trainee, railway technical trainee, technical manager, system analyst, equestrian assistant, barista, spa therapist, nail technician trainee and lifeguard.

Around 93 per cent of the vacancies are full-time jobs, with salaries ranging from $12,000 to $22,000 a month. About 90 per cent of them require a secondary seven education level or below. Around 66 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.

Job seekers can submit job applications during the event for possible on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries about the employment services provided by the Labour Department its counter at the venue.

MacPherson Stadium is at 38 Nelson Street, Mong Kok, and is accessible from Exit E2 of the Mong Kok MTR station.

The fair is organized by the LD together with the Demoratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) Ethnic Minorities Committee, with the Equal Opportunities Commission as the co-organiser.

Four major disciplinary forces, namely the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, will set up counters to introduce their career opportunities and entry requirements.

Last Friday, the Fire Services Department or FSD organized a career guidance seminar that specifically targeted EM women, aiming to inspire them, as well as young people from all backgrounds, to consider careers in emergency services.

The event was hosted by the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service under the Ethnic Minority Community Emergency Preparedness Participation Scheme.

Attendees were introduced to various roles within the FSD, and given training on fire safety and emergency preparedness.

Meanwhile, at the forthcoming jobs fair, the DAB EM Committee will introduce its support services for people from ethnic minority groups. Training bodies will also provide information while on-site interpretation services in Hindi, Urdu and Nepali will be available.

There will also be career talks on various professions on the first day of the job fair on July 24.

Job seekers can visit the LD's Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for more details on the vacancies.

Monsoon rains again shut schools, offices in Metro Manila

 

Metro Manila residents wade in waist-deep waters (AP photo)

For the second day running, all schools and government offices were ordered closed today, Tuesday, in Metro Manila and 10 provinces because of heavy monsoon rains.

Widespread flooding was reported in many parts of the country yesterday, prompting the government to order the closure of schools and offices. 

But by then, many people, including children, had already left home, so Malacanang ordered the nation's railway company to give free rides to those making their way back.

Basahin ang detalye!

The heavy rainfall triggered by the “habagat” or southwest monsoon is expected to continue in Metro Manila and several other provinces in Luzon and the Visayas until Friday.

Apart from the national capital region (NCR), classes and government work were also suspended today in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Occidental Mindoro.

The downpour is expected to continue until Friday.

Some school children had to wade through flood on Commonwealth Ave in Quezon City
when classes were suspended Monday, shortly after they had gone to school

Government meteorologist PAGASA said earlier it was monitoring two low pressure areas, one of which was seen developing in Southeast Luzon, and could develop into tropical cyclone Dante by Wednesday, further affecting many parts of the country.

The second LPA, which developed Monday afternoon, was spotted 405 km east of Calayan, Cagayan.

Last week, heavy rains from the habagat enhanced by tropical cyclone Crising unleashed floods and landslides, leaving at least five people dead.

Pinay gets 9 months’ jail for $312K money laundering

 

A Filipina was jailed for nine months after she pleaded guilty to money laundering just before her trial began today at Eastern Court.

I. Maqueda, 55 years old, had earlier denied handling $312,497.50, representing proceeds from a love scam, in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Deputy Magistrate Chung Wing-sze said the money was part of the $2.4 million extracted from a local woman by a man she had met on Facebook and managed to manipulate her into transfering various amounts to Maqueda’s Hang Seng Bank account.

Basahin ang detalye!

That money was then taken in 25 withdrawals from Maqueda’s account between Dec. 17, 2020 and Jan. 8, 2021, through her ATM card that she said she had lent to a friend’s friend as a favor.

Magistrate Chung said she believed Maqueda’s claim that she did not financially benefit from the laundering of crime money, but noted that in a police interview after her arrest, she claimed that he had lost her ATM card and did not report the loss.

She credited Maqueda for the fact there was no evidence she knew her account was being used for money laundering and that the crime money did not reach international banking channels.

In sentencing, Chung chose 12 months as starting point but gave a one-fourth - instead of the full one-third -- discount for Maqeda’s guilty plea, for a total sentence of nine months.

Since she had been in detention since her arrest in her employer’s house eight months ago, Maqueda would be out of jail soon after good behavior and holidays are taken into account.

Maqueda arrived in Hong Kong in 2003 to work as a domestic helper. She is separated from her husband, and has raised three children who are now adults.

Flights in and out of HK to return to normal by tomorrow

 

Passengers swamped HK Airport with the departure of Typhoon Wipha (RTHK)

The Hong Kong Airport Authority has rushed to clear a backlog of flights that were cancelled or delayed in the wake of the onslaught of Typhoon Wipha, which caused the hoisting of T10 for about seven hours yesterday.

An estimated 100,000 passengers on 500 flights were affected by the disruptions, and a big number of them had started trooping to the airport since yesterday afternoon when the alert level was lowered to T8, then T3.

Many others decided to take their luck, and ended up getting stranded at the airport from two to three days.

The Airport Authority said it expected a total of 1,076 flights to arrive and depart Hong Kong within today, Monday.

The Authority added its operations have returned to normal, aided by the flight rescheduling system it is using to help get stranded passengers get on their planes.

It said earlier that more than 230 flights departed and arrived between last night and this morning after Wipha left Hong Kong and is reported to be heading to Vietnam.

Passengers anxiously scan the flight board to check their new departure time

While all typhoon signals were cleared early this morning, Hong Kong will still experience heavy and intermittent rain with squally thunderstorms over the next few days under the influence of the outer rainbands of Wipha.

The typhoon, which was given a Thai woman’s name meaning “splendor” or “radiance,” was the first to cause the hoisting of T10 in the past two years, and only the fifth in the past two decades.

While it toppled more than 700 trees and caused a number of people to seek treatment at hospitals, Wipha’s average wind speed of 140 km/hr was among the lowest in its category.

Renowned meteorologist Leung Wing-mo said Hong Kong is simply "lucky" as it experienced relatively minimal damage compared to past storms under the T10 Typhoon signal, as he noted that the situation would have been entirely different if Wipha's path had been 10 kilometers further north.

An expert meteorologist told the press today that it was just lucky that Wipha’s eyewall was nearer south Cheung Chau than the urban areas. If it veered just 10 kilometers north, more areas across the city would have experience hurricane or near-hurricane force winds.

Another lucky event was that the typhoon came closest to Hong Kong at midday, when the tide was receding, otherwise it could have caused storm surges, which could be devastating.

 

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Pacquiao draws with WBC champion in comeback fight

 

Pacquiao scores in this screengrab of televised fight 

Manny Pacquiao today came out of a four-year retirement and held WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw, in a fight that critics said should have given him another page in boxing history.

Two other Filipinos scored victories in the card. Super featherweight Mark Magsayo defeated Jorge Mata Cuellar of Mexico by unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92) while Middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial beat American Bernard Joseph by 3rd-round technical knockout.

"I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said in a post-fight interview.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

The crowds who watched at the MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas agreed with him, as they booed when the results were announced; the first judge scored it 115-113 for Barrios while the other judges had it at 114-114.

The draw, which enabled Barrios to retain his World Boxing Council title, denied Pacquiao’s bid to be the first fighter ever to capture a major world title after being inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, which took place last June in recognition of his being champion in eight divisions.

The scorecards, however, showed that Pacquiao, 46 years old, was leading until Round 9, landing more heavy blows in exchange for 30-year-old Barrios’ mostly jabs, before the latter stepped up his aggression just enough to catch up on the last round.

Basahin ang detalye

Pacquiao landed 101 of his 577 punches (17.5%) compared to Barrios' 120 from 658 (18.2%). However, Pacquiao landed 81 power punches against Barrios' 75.

He said he wants a rematch, to which Barrios replied, ”I’d love to do it again.”

But Pacquiao’s team also held out for the possibility of fighting bigger names, such as Gervonta “Tank” Davis, WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero and Floyd Mayweather.

"If Mayweather comes out of retirement and signs the contract, we'll fight," he said.

In their 2015 fight, Mayweather won via unanimous decision to unify the WBC, WBA and World Boxing Organization welterweight titles.

T8 to be lowered to T3 at 7:40pm

 

The Observatory gave regular updates on the typhoon throughout the day

Hong Kong has avoided a direct hit from Typhoon Wipha, which caused Hurricane Signal No 10 to be raised at 9:20am today, and lasted for nearly seven hours before being replaced by T8 at 4:10pm.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the signal will be further lowered to T3 at 7:40pm today, as Wipha moves further away from the territory.

During its passage, it felled a total of 471 trees, most of which were reported to the Fire Services Department as of 4pm.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

At about the same time, a total of 26 people – 16 males and 10 females – have sought medical treatment at the accident and emergency departments at various public hospitals.

Another 253 people have sought refuge at 34 temporary shelters set up by the Home Affairs Department.

The No 10 signal, the highest-level warning, means that winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected.

 

The last No 10 signal was during Super Typhoon Saola in 2023, with the storm causing 86 injuries, landslides and thousands of trees to fall.

 

The strong winds toppled potted plants and scatttered debris at many gardens across HK

At 6 p.m., Typhoon Wipha was centred about 160 kilometres west-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west at about 22 kilometres per hour, skirting the vicinity of the coast of western Guangdong.

The Observatory said winds are progressively getting weaker, but gale to storm force southeasterly

The forecaster said local winds are weakening progressively, but gale to storm force southeasterly winds are still affecting parts of the territory occasionally. 

Basahin ang detalye

Everyone is urged to remain alert and to stay away from the shoreline, an advice that a number of people of people seem to have disregarded, as shown on various video clips posted on Facebook.

 

T8 will be raised at 12:20am, higher signal likely

 

Wipha is expected to strengthen as it moves towards HK overnight

The Hong Kong Observatory says it will issue the T8 signal at 12:20am tomorrow, as Tropical Storm Wipha continues to pick up strength as it nears the territory.

It added it will consider a higher signal tomorrow morning if the storm gets closer to Hong Kong as it moves toward the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta.

“Depending on the distance between Wipha and Hong Kong, whether Wipha will further intensify into a typhoon and the change in local wind conditions, the Observatory will assess the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals [on Sunday] morning," said a spokesman for the observatory.

PAANO SUMALI? BASAHIN DITO

The approaching storm has prompted several airlines to cancel flights, including Cathay Pacific which announced that all planes departing or arriving in Hong Kong between 5am and 6pm tomorrow, Sunday, will either be delayed or cancelled.

The airline advised passengers affected by the flight disruptions to avoid making phone inquiries and allow rebooking efforts to proceed first. Affected travelers will receive updates via SMS and email.

Another airline, EVA Air, also announced the cancellation of at least 20 flights to and from Taipei and Kaohsiung, which are on the storm’s path, between today and tomorrow.

Basahin ang detalye!

Wipha is expected to reach typhoon strength before hitting the coast of Guangdong overnight.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 101 kph (63mph) and gusts of up to 126 kph (78 mph) as it swept through south of Taiwan earlier today.

Before barreling through Taiwan, it caused massive flooding and landslides in many parts of the Philippines. Its strong winds toppled a billboard, which then crushed a parked truck in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

The Observatory said winds are expected to reach gale to storm force later tonight and early tomorrow, and the adverse weather will persist throughout the day tomorrow.

But it said the issuance of the higher tropical cyclone warnings would still depend on the distance between Wipha and Hong Kong.

Everyone is advised to stay away from the shoreline and avoid engaging in water sport as the seas would be rough with high swells.

Flooding may also occur in low-lying areas.