DH na nagnakaw ng pera sa amo, iwas-kulong

 

Nakaiwas sa kulong ang isang Pilipinang umamin sa pagnanakaw ng $3,000 cash sa kanyang amo, nang bigyan siya kanina ng sentensiyang apat na buwan sa kulungan, pero suspendido nang dalawang taon.

Gulat na lumabas sa korte si A. Torres, 32 taong gulang, at naintindihan lang niya ang nangyari nang payuhan siya ng guwardiya na bumaba sa cashier ng Fan Ling Court upang bawiin ang $300 na inilagak niya bilang piyansa.

Dahil pauwi na siya sa Pilipinas bukas, hindi na rin niya problema ang ipinataw na kundisyon ni Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi na huwag siyang lalabag sa batas ulit sa susunod na 24 buwan kundi ay makukulong siya. 

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Kinasuhan si Torres ng pagnanakaw ng anim na pirasong $500 sa amo niyang taga- Lok Ma Chau sa New Territories noong Aug. 26.

Nang mapansin ng amo na nawawala ang pera sa kanyang wallet at nagtanong, agad umamin si Torres na siya ang kumuha at ibinalik ang pera.

Pero tumawag pa rin ng pulis ang amo at inaresto siya, bago kinasuhan ng paglabag sa Theft Ordinance.

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Sa pagdinig kanina, humingi ng pag-unawa ang abogado ni Torres kay Magistrate Cheng.

Ayon sa abugado, pinagsisisihan ni Torres ang kanyang ginawa, na malaki ang nawala sa kanya dahil naputol ang kita niyang $4,300 kada buwan mula nang makasuhan siya, at natigil ang kanyang pagpapadala ng pera sa kanyang mga magulang at isang kapatid sa Pilipinas, na umaasa sa kanya.

Mula nang dumating siya sa Hong Kong noong 2015 para magtrabaho bilang domestic helper, dagdag ng abogado, ngayon lang siya nagkaproblema sa batas at ito ay dahil na-stroke ang kanyang ina at nangailangan ng malaking halaga upang maipagamot.

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Pero sabi ni Magistrate Cheng kay Torres hindi lang nito nilabag ang batas, kundi binalewala din ang  tiwala ng kanyang amo. Dagdag niya, ang mga ganitong kaso ay karaniwang pinaparusahan ng pagkakakulong ng anim na buwan,pero dahil sa kanyang pag-amin ay mababawasan ito ng dalawang buwan.

Gayunpaman, nanaig pa rin ang awa sa mahistrado.

 “Malinaw na nagawa mo ito para sa iyong ina,” paliwanag  niya sa wikang Inggles. “Nawalan ka ng trabaho, at mapipilitan kang umuwi dahil ikaw ay hindi na makakakita ng bagong amo, kaya wala nang panganib na muli kang magkakasala.”

Dahil dito ay idinagdag niya na suspendido ang sentensiya nang dalawang taon.

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Sa gulat ay hindi agad umalis sa kinatatayuan si Torres, hanggang pinalabas siya ng guwardiya. Saka lang niyang naintindihan ang desisyon ng Magistrate nang ipinaliwanag ito sa kanya sa wikang Ilokano ng kanyang Pilipinong interpreter. .

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17 Philippine companies to take part in Mega Show HK

 

Products shown here are made by some of  the companies taking part in Mega Show HK

Filipinos’ exceptional craftsmanship will be  on display at the upcoming Mega Show 2023 in Hong Kong, considered as the largest sourcing  trade show in the city.

Seventeen companies who are part of  HAPI –the Home Accents Group of the Philippines, Inc. – will participate in the exhibit, and will showcase different houseware products that were made in the country using indigenous materials. These products include toys, Christmas and home decors as well as gift items.

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The Mega Show 2023 will be held from Oct 20 (Friday) to Oct 23 (Monday) at Hall 1B and 3B of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

The Filipino companies’ participation in the trade exhibit is made possible by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center – Hong Kong (PTIC-HK) led by Trade Attache Roberto Mabalot, Jr.

Flyer for the trade show with names of participating Philippine companies

PTIC HK is also behind the idea to make Philippine food products readily available in Hong Kong through an agreement with two of the city’s retail giants, Wellcome and Market Place.

On the next Sunday, Oct. 29, PTIC HK will also resume its entrepreneurship seminar for overseas Filipino workers who are planning to set up businesses in the Philippines. They will be given basic investment tips, business ideas and a how-to guide on registering their company.

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But for now, Mabalot is inviting all Filipinos living in Hong Kong as well as buyers from the city, Mainland China and other overseas markets to visit the Philippine booths at the Mega Show 2023 and lend support to the country’s artisans.

For more information, 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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Guhit Kulay artists hold free sketching workshop at Consulate

 

Work by Rochelle Dulay, who is one of 2 Guhit Kulay artists conducting the workshop

Two Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong who are both acclaimed artists, will provide a free lesson on basic sketching this coming Sunday, Oct. 22, 9:30am to 12noon, at the Sentro Rizal at the Philippine Consulate.

Rochelle Dulay and Jonalyn Molina, both members of the all-migrant workers group, Guhit Kulay, will lead the sketching workshop which is organized by the Consulate in celebration of Museums and Galleries Month 2023.

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Dulay, who works as a family driver and does taekwondo on the side, describes herself as a self-taught artist and a proud overseas Filipino worker. She comes from a family of artists in the Philippines.

Molina whose art works were recently featured in a local publication, found her artistic bent while she was still in high school in Laguna, when she joined non-formal lessons in art. She has been working as a migrant worker in Hong Kong for seven years.

Jonalyn Molina with some of her works

Busy as they are with their domestic duties, both women still find time to dabble in various art forms and join exhibitions co-organized by Guhit Kulay International, a Filipino migrant artist collective set up in 2017 by Cristina Cayat, who excels in designing and sewing native Cordillera outfits.

The group’s immediate past president, Noemi Manguera, has migrated to Canada, where her artworks are often featured in exhibits and are highy prized.

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One of Guhit Kulay’s latest projects is a short documentary shot in collaboration with foreign filmmakers. It continues to be shown in venues abroad, with the latest being Fabrica Brighton in the United Kingdom only last October 5.

Those who want to learn the basic techniques of sketching and expressing themselves through art may register by scanning the QR code in the poster, or visit: 𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐛𝐢𝐭.𝐥𝐲/𝐜𝐮𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐨𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝟏.

The sketching workshop will be held at the Consulate this Sunday

Please note that only a few slots are available and participants will be accommodated on a first-come first-served basis.

For more information, you may contact the Consulate’s Cultural Section at 2823-8535 or email cultural.pcg@gmail.com Thank you.

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Syndicate supplying restaurants with illegal workers smashed

 

Investigators display evidence seized during the raids on the syndicate

The Immigration Department (ImmD) has smashed an illegal worker syndicate posing as a labor contractor supplying cleaners to restaurants.

The syndicate was unmasked in anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Fireblade" conducted by Immigration’s Special Investigation Section from October 10 to 12.

A total of five syndicate members, 20 suspected illegal workers and eight suspected employers were arrested in raids on 16 premises.

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In separate joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand" on October 10 and 12, ImmD also arrested six suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and four overstayers.

In a statement, Immigration said the syndicate had been under investigation since earlier this year.

After months of investigation and intelligence analysis, the ImmD identified the syndicate providing cleaning services to restaurants, claiming to provide lawfully employable workers while recruiting illegal workers at a lower cost.

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“The ImmD believed that the syndicate had operated for more than six months” it said in a tatement. “Over 50 restaurants were involved and the value of outsourced contracts ranged from $20,000 to $50,000. It is estimated that the total amount of transaction handled by this syndicate exceeded $17 million.”

In operation Fireblade, the ImmD had raided four residential premises and 12 restaurants.

Of the 33 persons arrested, five were syndicate members aged 25 to 64, 20 suspected illegal workers and eight suspected employers.

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The arrested workers comprise six men and 14 women, aged 23 to 55, and reported to be mostly Indonesians. Among them, two were holders of recognizance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment.

Three forged Hong Kong identity cards were unearthed and a considerable number of items were seized including bank statements, employment contracts, mobile phones and computer equipment. The investigation is still ongoing, and more persons involved in the case may be arrested.

In its other operation, ImmD and police operatives arrested six suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and four overstayers.

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During operation "Champion", officers raided 41 target locations in Sham Shui Po District, including garages, premises under renovation, residential buildings and retail shops. Three suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and four overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised one man and two women, aged 32 to 53. In addition, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

Three male and one female overstayers, aged 39 to 47, were arrested. Three men, aged 27 to 57, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. Among them, two suspected illegal workers, three suspected employers and four overstayers were handled by the ImmD.

A suspected illegal worker is taken in for investigation.

In operation "Windsand", three male Mainland visitors, aged 28 to 50, were arrested for breaching their condition of stay by being involved in suspected illegal parallel trading activities at Ka Fu Close and areas around San Wan Road in Sheung Shui district. The goods were healthcare products and skincare products.

"As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business,” the ImmD said.

“ Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offense to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment," it added.

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Health expert urges public to get flu shots

 

Hui says getting a flu jab is more urgent than going for a Covid-19 booster shot

A top health adviser to the Hong Kong government has called on the public to get vaccinated against the flu as the influenza season is expected to overlap with a coronavirus outbreak next month.

The warning from respiratory expert Dr David Hui of the Chinese University came as 37 people came down with a severe bout with the flu last week, and 21 died as a result.

Only 15 of the severely infected patients were vaccinated.

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Hui said it was more important for people to get vaccinated against the flu than get a Covid-19 booster.

“We have not come across the flu for three years so it would be tough for those who get infected,” Hui said in a radio programme.

In contrast, he said many people had already been inoculated or infected with the coronavirus in the past three years so its symptoms have become mild.

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He also said it was important for people to get a flu shot this year even if they had one last year because the new jabs covered the latest strains highlighted by the World Health Organization.

A total of 232 severe flu cases have already been recorded since the start of the summer flu season in August this year, with 141 deaths to date.

Public health clinics have begun giving free flu shots starting on October 5 to people aged 65 and above,  pregnant women, residents and staff of residential care homes, poultry workers and pig farmers and those with chronic health conditions who are CSSA recipients.

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At the Migrant Workers Office of the Philippine Consulate, however, Filipino domestic workers aged 50 and above have been offered free flu shots since the start of the month through  a government grant to a private clinic.

Apart from the flu shot, Hui said people in high-risk groups, including those aged 18 to 49 with chronic diseases and immunocrompromised children at least six months old, should also get a Covid-19 booster if more than six months have passed since they last had a jab or infection.

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Hui and other medical experts sitting in a committee reviewing strategies for public health management earlier this week recommended that residents receive a third-generation Covid-19 jab targeting the XBB variant for better protection ahead of a winter surge.

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Brave Filipina films, scares burglars away

 

One of the burglars makes a face at the Pinay before fleeing

The brave woman who foiled an attempt by two cheeky burglars to break into a standalone house in Sai Kung in the small hours last Thursday was a Filipina domestic helper, and not the “female homeowner” as was reported in most mainstream news outlets earlier.

This was evident in the viral video uploaded on YouTube where the 42-year-old Filipina could be heard first muttering, “Hoy” to the masked burglars and then continued shouting until they clambered over an open window to flee.

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But before doing so, one of them waved at the helper and made a face, sparking myth among those who saw the video online and posted in major media outlets.

The video was taken by the brave Filipina while shooing the burglars away as she made her way  across the dimly-lit house in Spanish Villas, Nam Wai, Sai Kung. (video here: https://video.hkhl.hk/746e6c2068bf71eebfc95014c1da0102/ea7b678cbcb14a4fb00237580acce2e2-18291e280c29e01890a06148475ff66c-ld.mp4?_=1

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She then informed her 42-year-old male French employer, who called the police at 2:37am.

Officers who responded to the call found that a glass door of the house had been damaged but no property was stolen.

The brave Pinay inspecting the broken glass door of  their Sai Kung home

On further investigation, they discovered that another village house nearby had been burgled. The windows had been prised open and some properties were taken but their value was not immediately known.

The incident came just six months after another foreign domestic helper scared off two men who had tried to sneak into her employer’s detached house in Royal Castle, Clear Water Bay, also in Sai Kung.

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The helper heard a strange noise in the house at about 10pm on April 20 and saw the burglars about to enter the house when she went to investigate.

She immediately raised the alarm and the burglars fled toward the hills behind the house.

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The police who came after receiving a report found no trace of the thieves, but saw that the doors and windows of the house had been pried open.

When they checked the CCTV, they saw two men wearing black shirts in the act of entering the house.

No arrests were made after the incident.

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