Business ideas for OFWs: Innovative food products get recognition

 

Slow: Health drink from coconut sap

Coconut flowers, when cut before they develop into coconuts, secrete sap that has for centuries been collected by farmers in the Philippines and turned into tuba, a sweet, mildly alcoholic drink.

But what if the sap is canned right after being collected from the tree?

The result is the Power of SLOW Coconut Flower Sap, developed by Lionheart Farms Philippines Corporation, targeting the export market with a refreshing health drink perfect as an alternative to sugary drinks.

In the case of Destileria Barako Corporation, it added ube, a root crop best known as flavoring for ice cream, to vodka distilled from fermented sugarcane juice. It packaged the drink in a fancy bottle and marketed Ube Cream Liqueur in selected stores such as Kultura in SM Malls.

Long lines at its free taste tests indicate its potential for success
 

Ube Cream Liqueur

These products are two of the nine winners of the 2024 Katha Awards for Food, a yearly project of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) , the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to champion Philippine food excellence.

The winners were announced as part of the IFEX Philippines 2024 held earlier this month at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

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CITEM Deputy Executive Director and Officer in Charge Ma. Lourdes Mediran said: “Katha Awards has been a hallmark of Philippine creativity through the recognition of fresh and innovative food products and applications. It seeks to inspire courage among food entrepreneurs to explore galleries of flavors and work on new, untried idea.”

“Out of 79 products submitted for evaluation, 21 made it to the final screening and only nine (9) emerged as the creme dela creme, meticulously selected by luminaries who are all well-respected within the food community,” Mediran said.

Katha Award winners and CITEM officials

The Board of Judges for this year’s Katha Awards for Food was led by former Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary, former CITEM President and now President of International School of Sustainable Tourism, Dr. Mina Gabor. Joining her were Anna Marie Ozaeta, co-founder of the Philippine Culinary Heritage; Ferdinand Cabo Chanpongco, Food Industry Consultant; and Millie Dizon, senior vice president for marketing of SM Retail.

Here is the list of winners of the 2024 Katha Awards for Food:

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Beverages

The Power of SLOW Coconut Flower Sap by Lionheart Farms Philippines Corporation: A refreshing coconut flower beverage perfect as an alternative to sugary drinks.

Ube Cream Liqueur by Destileria Barako Corporation: An innovative fusion of sugar cane vodka and Filipino ube.

Ready-to-eat Savories and Home Meal Replacements

Bean Appetit Monggo with Squash in Coconut Milk and Dilis by Bestfriend Goodies: A convenient and ready-to-eat, Halal-certified monggo dish made special with squash, coconut milk, and anchovies.

Meat, Poultry and Dairy Products

Real Bacon Crisps by Baken Philippines, Inc.:Original, crispy, and smoky bacon strips made with hundred percent real pork.

Fruits and Vegetables, Seaweeds, and Plant-based Meat Alternatives

Buenas Dried Vegetables by Gem Foods International, Inc.: Seasonal leafy vegetables processed in dry format, ready to use for soup, dish, or tea.

Bakery Products and Confectionery

Handcrafted Chocolate Treats by Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory, Inc.: Ready-to-eat and handcrafted chocolate, made with real coconut and natural ingredients.

Cereals and Cereal Products

Doña Maria Brown Rice Puffs Series by SL Agritech Corporation: Crunchy, tasty, and nutritious oven-baked puff snacks made from Doña Maria Brown Rice.

Food Ingredients, Condiments, and Sweeteners

Maharlika Pure Calamansi Extract by One Vizcaya by Gulf Pacific Integrated Exports, Inc.: Pure calamansi extract conveniently packed in sachets for any time use.

Fish and Other Seafood Products

Northbay Deli Classic Salmon Smoked in Oil by Kai Anya Foods International Corporation: Ready-to-eat salmon belly strips in soya oil mixed with choice spices.

Here is the list of finalists:

● The Locale Farm Strawberry Tea by Northern Roots SG Group, Inc. by The Legacy Farmers Agriculture Cooperative

● Sabroso 100% Pure Cacao with Coconut Milk and Sugar by Sabroso Chocolate Manufacturing

● OSH! Oh So Healthy Get Nutty (Nuts N’ Crisps Mix) by Innovative Packaging Industry Corporation

● Stips Chips Salted Egg Cassava Chips by Happy Eats Corporation

● unMEAT Meatballs in Spaghetti Sauce by Century Pacific Food, Inc.

● unMEAT Luncheon Meat Hot & Spicy by Century Pacific Food, Inc.

● Hab Eat Calamansi Extract Powder by PFP (Pautricia Food Processing) Corporation

● Wangsil Radish Cubed Kimchi by Daebak Korean Food Trading

● Hueza Crisps by Hueza Bakery

● Daily Apple Chocolate-Coated Candied Roselle Flower by Herbanext Laboratories, Inc.

● Sarap Pinoy Ginataang Bilo-Bilo by Grand Alphatech International Corporation

● Coco Natura Premium Coco Syrup by Los Ricos Compania Corporation

● Buenas Creamy Halo-Halo Series by Gem Foods International, Inc.

● Buenas Gourmet Bagoong Tomato Flavor by Gem Foods International, Inc.

● Grand Kim Sardines in Curry Sauce by ZC E & L Corporation 

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PHL and HK sign MoU to boost trade ties

 

Citem and HKTDC officials show the newly-signed MoU

Trade marketing representatives from the Philippines and Hong Kong signed a landmark pact on April 21 to strengthen economic activities and increase bilateral trade between the two places.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the Philippines’ Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) deputy executive director Maria Lourdes D. Mediran and her counterpart from Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC), Sophia Chong  

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Among those who witnessed the signing were Philippine Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan and Vice Consul and Commercial Attache Roberto Mabalot, Jr.

Philippine Consul General Usudan (2nd from left) was among those who witnessed the signing

Citem is an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, whose Hong Kong arm, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Hong Kong (PTIC-HK) advocated for the MoU for almost three years.

Under the MoU, the Philippines and Hong Kong will pursue further cooperation in areas such as trade promotion, participation in events organized by Citem and HKTDC, and trade facilitation for businesses in both places.

 

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The Philippines has consistently ranked as the sixth biggest trading partner of Hong Kong, with the total merchandise trade between them amounting to US$10.85 billion last year.

A total of US$8.84billion worth of Philippine goods were exported to Hong Kong during this year, and the remaining US$2.01 billion was the amount of goods imported by the Philippines from the city.

For more information regarding the MoU between the CITEM and HKTDC, please feel free to contact the PTIC-HK at hongkong@dti.gov.ph. You may also follow the official Facebook page of the PTIC-HK at DTI Hong Kong.  

 

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Filipino migrants warned against lending HKIDs as 13 arrested for money laundering

 

Lending one's HKID is enough to get one arrested for money laundering

The Philippine Migrant Workers Office has warned Filipino domestic workers against lending their Hong Kong ID cards to avoid falling into the money laundering trap.

The warning posted by the MWO on its Facebook page Friday night came a day after HK Police announced the arrest of 14 domestic helpers, 13 of them Filipinos and one Indonesian; as well as two local men on suspicion of conspiring to commit money laundering.

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The suspects, who are aged between 21 and 54, were arrested as part of the police money laundering operation codenamed “Halobolt” which was carried out on Nov. 27.

Police said the group had offered between $200 and $500 to FDWs  to lend or “rent” out their bank accounts for the purpose of money laundering.

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Members of the criminal group would then enter the account holders’ names and create their own passwords to gain direct control to the account. Then, fraud victims are told to deposit money into the dummy accounts, which are then promptly emptied through multiple bank transfers.

Employers are urged  to warn their FDWs against the money laundering trap

The Police called on all employers to remind their helpers that money laundering is a serious offence and that anyone who provides personal information to anyone to open a bank account for money laundering purposes in their name, may be breaking the law.

Under Hong Kong laws, money laundering is punishable by up to 14 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million.

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As a result of the mounting cases related to money laundering, Hong Kong courts have imposed tougher penalties on those who allow their bank accounts to be used for the illicit act.

The highest sentence imposed so far on a Filipina DH whose bank account was used to transfer more than $1.2 million from a romance scam victim was 15 months’ imprisonment after trial.

Another Filipina DH who was tried separately in June this year was  jailed for 12 months after $281,000 was found to have passed through a bank account she just opened. 

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Feature: Waging muli ang kapitanang dating OFW sa HK

 

The SUN

Umaga pa lang noong Oct. 31 ay humahangos na paalis ng bahay si Janice Morales de Pablo dahil sa tawag na may nag-aaway sa karatig na sitio. Maghapon siyang natali siya sa pag-ayos sa gulo at pag-tulong sa pulis na nag-imbestiga.

Dahil dito, imbes na magbunyi dahil sa muling pagkahalal bilang kapitana sa barangay election na isinagawa noong nakaraang araw ay sumabak agad sa trabaho si Janice.  Pwede naman daw kasing maghintay ang selebrasyon.

Kinabukasan na siya nakapaglabas ng pasasalamat sa mga taong tumulong sa kanyang kampanya at sa mga botante ng Brgy. Batuan sa Balasan, Iloilo.

“Batuanon, kayo ang nanalo,” ika ng ang dating OFW sa Hong Kong sa kanyang Facebook page sa salitang Hiligaynon. “Dadagdagan at ipagpapatuloy ko ang aking magandang nagawa para sa ikauunlad at katagumpayan ng lahat.”

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Dagdag niya: “Maraming salamat sa taos-pusong pagsuporta at pagmamahal sa aking pamilya at grupo.”

Sa kanyang tiket, apat ang nanalo. May panglima sana, pero natalo ito sa toss-coin matapos mag-tabla ang boto niya sa kalaban. Dalawa ang natalo. Ang kanyang pamangkin ay nahalal naman bilang chairman ng Sanguniang Kabataan.

Isa lamang ito sa mga tagumpay ni Janice simula nang umalis siya sa Hong Kong noong 2013 para magsimula ng pamilya pagkatapos ng anim na taong pagtatrabaho bilang domestic helper.  Nakakatatlong taon na rin kasi silang kasal noon ng kanyang asawang si Rex, at gusto na niyang mag-alaga ng sarili niyang anak.

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Tutal, ika niya, nakapag-ipon na siya ng pangtayo ng isang maliit na negosyo. Nakapag-tapos din siya sa Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) program, isang proyekto ng Ateneo de Manila University upang turuan at hikayatin ang mga OFW sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo na magnegosyo pagbalik nila sa Pilipinas.

Si Janice at kanyang pamilya.

Ang pinanghawakan niya ay isang feasibility study na ginawa niya sa tulong ng kanyang LSE mentor na si Leo A. Deocadiz, publisher ng The SUN. Pinag-aralan niya ang pagtatayo ng isang t-shirt printing shop, upang magamit ang nalalaman ng asawa niya, na isang graphic artist sa isang pahayagan sa Iloilo.

“Nagsimula lahat sa 21 designs. Dahil sa tulong ng aming pamilya, unti-unting lumaki.  Nagdagdag sila ng pera,” ika niya. Mula t-shirt, nailapat ni Rex ang kanyang alam sa disenyo sa iba’t ibang bagay, gaya ng sign printing sa trapal na naging mabili noong eleksyon, paglagay ng karatula sa mga tindahan, pagdikit ng logo sa mga sasakyang pangnegosyo at maraming iba pa.

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Sumunod nilang itinayo ang Dylar na tindahan ng office supply at ang Aqualad water refilling station.

Hindi lang sila nakapagtayo ng kabuhayan, nakapagbigay pa sila ng trabaho sa 11 nilang kabarangay, maliban sa mga kamag-anak na sumosyo.

Mabili ang mga karatula ng 21Designs para sa kandidato, 

Kaya kung kita ang habol ng mag-asawang de Pablo, maliit ang 1,000 pesos na buwanang bayad sa barangay captain.

Ang pagbabago ng buhay ni Janice mula home servant sa Hong Kong na naging public servant ay nagsimula noong ituro siya ng ama niyang si Dedimo bilang kapalit nito matapos ang kabuuang anim na termino bilang puno ng kanilang barangay.

Madali sa kanya ang pagtanggap sa bagong responsibilidad, dahil maliit pa siya ay hinubog na siya ng ama. “Akay-akay po ako lagi ng tatay ko saan man siya mapunta. Siguro nasanay na at nahubog sa pangaral lagi ng aking tatay,” paliwanag niya.

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Sa limang taon niyang paninilbihan bilang kapitana, naging mahaba ang listahan ng kanyang mga proyekto, na nagbigay sa Batuan ng iba’t ibang parangal, gaya ng Galing Pook Award na iginawad ng Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay. Ilan sa mga ito:

·        Streetlights project mula Purok 1 hanggang Purok 3: Nailawan ang 310 kabahayan.

·        Paghukay ng culvert sa Purok 1: Ang dalawang lugar na pondohan ng tubig ay hindi na bumabaha.

·        Sementadong kanal sa Purok 1 at 2 na may habang 45 meters at 110 meters  .

·        Pagsaayos ng irrigation system na dumidilig sa mahigit 100 hectare na palayan, na sinusuportahan ng Balasan LGU, Regional Kagawaran ng Agrikultura , Provincial Agriculture Office at Municipal Agriculture Office.

·        Pagpapaayos ng  barangay hall, na nabilhan ng dalawang air con, dalawang computer at printer, medical equipment at first aid kit, monoblock na upuan at  maraming pang iba na bigay ni  Iloilo Gov. Toto  Arthur Defensor Jr. at iba pang opisyal sa kapitolyo.

·        100 meters na concrete road na pinondohan ng DSWD, ni Mayor Filomeno Ganzon at Vice Mayor Toto Manuel Ganzon, at kinuhang trabahador ang mga naninirahan sa barangay.

·        Repainting ng buong plaza.

·        Communal Garden, kung saan ang inaaning gulay ay para sa mga batang mababa ang timbang.

·        Pagbibigay ng libreng gamit eskwelahan.

Malaki ang tulong ng komumidad sa Communal Garden.

Pero ang pagiging OFW niya sa Hong Kong ay nakatatak pa rin sa kanya, kahit 10 taon na siyang umuwi at nagkaanak na ng dalawa. Ka-chat pa rin niya ang panganay na alagang iniwan niya nang ito ay 12 taong gulang. Ito ay doktor na at iniimbita siya sa kasal nito. Ang ikalawa na mas bata ng limang taon, ay nasa college pa.

At ang payo niya sa mga OFW na nasa Hong Kong pa rin: “Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag asa. Mangarap tayo na makauwi at magtabi ng kita para makauwi sa ating pamilya, dahil ang tunay na kasiyahan ng ating puso at isipan ay makasama ang ating buong pamilya sa hirap man o ginhawa.”

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Maaari pa ring ipa-quarantine ang mga paparating na FDHs, pero dapat bayaran

Ng The SUN

 

Kailangang sagutin ng employer ang lahat ng gastos sa quarantine ng FDH, at swelduhan ito

Simula sa umaga ng Lunes, Sept. 26, ay tatanggalin na ang hotel quarantine at negative PCR o swab test sa lahat ng mga paparating sa Hong Kong, kabilang ang mga foreign domestic helper (FDHs).

Ang kailangan lang nilang gawin bago pasakayin sa eroplano papunta ng Hong Kong ay magpakita ng negative result sa rapid antigen test (self-test) na kinuha sa loob ng nagdaang 24 oras, at magsumite ng health declaration online. (Nandito ang link para dito: 香港特別行政區衞生署 健康及檢疫資訊申報 HKSAR Department of Health Health & Quarantine Information Declaration (chp.gov.hk)

Pero ayon sa isang pahayag ng Labour Department na inilabas ngayong araw ng Sabado, may karapatan ang isang employer na ipasailalim pa rin sa quarantine ang kanilang FDH pagdating nila sa Hong Kong ng hanggang pitong araw.

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Hindi na ito kailangang ihingi ng employer ng permiso sa Labour, pero dapat ay (1) bayaran nila ang hotel, boarding house o ano pa mang lugar kung saan nila gustong mag quarantine ang kanilang FDH at bigyan nila ng food allowance; at (2) suwelduhan ito batay sa kanilang kontrata.

Nandito ang listahan ng mga lisensyadong guest houses sa Hong Kong: Office of the Licensing Authority - Hotels/ Guesthouses - Overview (hadla.gov.hk)

Kung piliin ng employer na hindi na ipa quarantine ang kanilang FDH ay kailangang patuluyin nila ito sa kanilang bahay, at sundan ang mga patakaran sa lahat ng mga bagong dating.

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Ibig sabihin, maari nang mag-umpisang magtrabaho ang FDH, lumabas ng bahay, sumakay sa mga pampublikong sasakyan at pumasok sa mga lugar na hindi kailangan ng verification code sa ilalim ng vaccine pass.

Pero katulad ng ibang bagong dating, hindi ito makakapasok sa mga restaurant, simbahan, eskwela at iba pang mga lugar na tinatawag na “high risk” kung saan may pangalawang pag-scan ng kanilang QR code para sila makapasok.

Kapag patuloy silang mag negatibo sa mga test ay malilipat sila sa “blue code” sa ika-apat na araw, at libre na silang pumasok kahit sa mga pinagbabawal na mga lugar na ito – kung may booster o ikatlong bakuna na sila.

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Sa kanilang pagdating ay isasailalim sila sa PCR test sa airport, at kailangan nila itong ulitin sa ika-2, 4 at 6 na araw pagkadating. Dapat nila itong gawin kahit naka-quarantine sila sa utos ng kanilang employer, kung hindi ay papagmultahin sila ng $10,000.

Ipinapatupad ng gobyerno ang ganitong patakaran dahil nauunawan daw nila na may mga employer na kailangan ng ibayong paghihigpit sa pagpapasok ng ibang tao sa kanilang bahay dahil mayroon silang maliliit na anak o kasamang may edad na delikadong tamaan ng Covid-19.

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Para sa iba pang detalye, narito ang pahayag mula sa gobyerno: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202209/24/P2022092400139.htm

Maari ding kumuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga papasok na FDH dito: www.fdh.labour.gov.hk – o tumawag sa hotline ng Labour Department,  2717 1771, mag email sa fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk o diretso sa kanilang website: www.fdh.labour.gov.hk.

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Another cargo crew tests preliminary positive for Covid-19, 2 others confirmed

By The SUN 

Residents of 3 towers in Hamptom Place will be tested for Covid-19 overnight

The Centre for Health Protection has reported that another Cathay Pacific cargo crew who recently returned from Germany has tested preliminary positive for Covid-19 involving the L452R mutant strain.

As a result, an overnight lockdown was ordered on Towers 1, 2 and 3 of Hampton Place in Tai Kok Tsui where he lives, so all residents there could be tested. A compulsory testing notice was also issued for all the places he has visited.

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Separately, CHP reported two more confirmed imported cases today, Nov 13. The two women, aged 49 and 65, both flew in from United Arab Emirates via EK384 on Nov 11 and tested positive on their arrival test.

The younger woman, who originally flew from Mauritius to Dubai, also carried the L452R mutant strain.

Meanwhile, the 53-year-old cargo crew patient who was quarantine-exempt, was allowed to go home after testing negative for the virus on his arrival on Nov 3, potentially exposing his family members and other people to infection.

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He is the fourth cargo crew from Cathay to have tested positive for the mutant strain in less than a week.

According to the CHP, the patient tested negative on Oct 31 and left Hong Kong for Germany on Nov. 3. Four days later he returned to Hong Kong via flight CX3188 from Germany, and his arrival test result was negative.

However, his test sample collected yesterday, Nov 12, tested preliminary positive for Covid-19 with Ct value of 24 to 26, indicating a heavy viral load.

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On Wednesday, three other CX cargo air crew were confirmed to have Covid-19.

Two of them, both pilots, carried a mutant strain of the Delta variant commonly found in Europe, especially Germany. As the two were also cleared to go home after testing negative on arrival, their residences and other places they had visited in Hong Kong were put on CTN.

More than 120 kids in the kindergarten and primary grades of Discovery Bay International School had to be sent to Penny’s Bay quarantine centre as well since one of the pilot’s wife taught there, and his two children were students.

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A third air cargo crew who tested positive on his arrival from Qatar was found to carry a low viral load so no tests could be done for the presence of a mutant strain. The CHP has since classified this as a re-positive case.

Their cases prompted a further tightening of restrictions on air crew members who need to travel frequently in and out of Hong Kong in the course of their work.

A government advisory posted Friday said the Transport and Housing Bureau has asked airlines to carry out the following measures:

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1)     assign on-site personnel to ensure cargo crew comply with the requirements of the closed-loop operation to minimize their infection risks;

2)     impose more restrictions on local cargo crew’s movements during their medical surveillance periods and strengthen monitoring to minimize their contact with the local community

3)     impose daily post-arrival testing for returning local cargo crew to strengthen the monitoring of their health conditions

4)     mandate all local air crew to receive their third doses of Covid vaccines

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Russia link found in airport porter infected with Delta variant

By The SUN

The porter is suspected to have been infected by an undiagnosed Russian cabin crew

Genetic sequencing has revealed that the Delta mutant strain carried by a porter at Hong Kong International Airport had the same genome or genetic makeup as four cases from Russia, according to a statement issued by the Centre for Health Protection today, Jul 13.

However, the immediate source of his infection is still being investigation.

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The statement was issued as an additional confirmed case was reported today, involving a 27-year-old woman who flew in from Cambodia and was found infected while in quarantine at Hotel Jen in Shek Tong Sui. She was asymptomatic.

According to the CHP, the porter (Case 11952) , whose infection was confirmed last Sunday, Jul 11, had served flight RL 9933 where an air crew (11947) was found infected after arriving from Moscow on Jul 6.

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While the two did not have direct contact, the porter reportedly stayed and worked on the plane for several hours. Some turnaround crew members on this flight also stayed inside the cabin the whole time.

“Case 11952 might have been infected from some undiagnosed cabin crew in this flight from Russia,” said the statement. “The CHP is following up the case with the overseas health authority and further investigation is still ongoing.”

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Three other previously reported infections from Russia were also linked to the porter through genetic sequencing. One, case 11887, was a cargo flight crew from Russia who arrived on Jun 16. The two others were a couple from Russia who arrived in Hong Kong on Jun 29.

The porter’s case was found not to be genetically linked to another airport worker, a ground crew staff found infected with the mutant virus two weeks ago.

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Case 11909, which pertains to the ground crew, was earlier linked to three Indonesian women who were all found to carry the variant.

In the past 14 days, a total of 31 cases have been reported, only two of which were not imported. The two others are the airport workers, which based on the latest reports, are now both linked to imported cases.

Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally is made up of 11,592 confirmed and one probable case.