70-year-old Filipina surrenders after being OS for 28 years

 

Aida (in white blouse) is interviewed by Mission volunteer Rain

A 70-year-old Filipina former domestic helper has surrendered to Immigration authorities with help from the Philippine Consulate, after overstaying her visa for 28 years.

Ana, who is also getting help from the Mission for Migrant Workers for her board and lodging and case, was allowed to post $500 bail on Tuesday, Mar 26, when she reported back to the Immigration Department’s office at Skyline building in Mong Kok.

Both the Consulate and the Mission are asking Immigration to allow her to just go back to the Philippines, given her age and frail condition.

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Under Hong Kong laws, overstaying is a serious offence, which could merit a sentence of up to two years in jail and a fine of $50,000, depending on the length of the overstay. It is only very rarely that an overstayer, especially one who has been underground for a considerable period, is allowed to skip detention before being deported.

The penalty may be higher if the offender is found to have committed another offense, like doing illegal work.

In Ana’s case, she said she mainly survived after going underground through the help of friends. She admitted falling for a Western man who took pity on her and supported her for a time, but he left Hong Kong several years ago.

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At some point, two of her adult children came to Hong Kong to also do domestic work, and they sustained her financial needs. However, they have since returned home and started their own families.

Despite being repeatedly advised by people around her, including her children, to surrender so she could go back to the Philippines and live a normal life, Ana resisted, citing her mortal fear of her abusive husband.

“Hindi naman niya ako sinasaktan, pero ang sakit magsalita. Laging pinapamukha sa akin na sinusuportahan niya ang mga pangangailangan ko at ng pamilya naming kaya ako napilitang magtrabaho sa Hong Kong,” said Ana. (He did not hurt me physically, but he always used hurtful words with me. He always reminded me that he was providing for my and our family’s needs so I was forced to work in Hong Kong).

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The tremor in her voice and the visible shaking of her hands suggested the kind of fear, even if unfounded, that drove her to live underground in Hong Kong for nearly three decades.

Despite this, Ana admits it was wrong for her to have spent the best part of her years hiding in the shadows, and said it is not the kind of life other people should have.

“I would say po na huwag na silang mag OS (they should not turn OS). It’s hard to be in that situation,” she said.

Just before the pandemic, her husband died in the Philippines and their children began urging Ana again to go home, but she hesitated, thinking that it would be dangerous for her to be locked up with a lot of people, as she was unvaccinated.

Because of her visa status, Ana has never been to a doctor for the past 28 years but she said she has remained healthy as she seldom ventured outdoors.

But more than a year since all travel restrictions were lifted in Hong Kong, Ana decided to finally go home, no matter how bleak the future that awaits her in her hometown of Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Her three children who have tried their best to send her money in Hong Kong despite their meager resources, are not in a position to help much as they have their own families to look after. Providing for an elderly parent who chose to stay away for so long is something they couldn’t sustain for long.

But Ana is not even looking that long into the future, and would just like to appeal for help from kind-hearted people so she could pay for her day-to-day needs, at least until Immigration decides on what to do with her case, and she could fly back home.

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Everyone aged 6 months up can now receive latest Covid-19 vaccine

 

The XBB vaccine will now be available to everyone qualified to get vaccinated against Covid-19

From today, March 27, everyone aged 6 months or above who are still not vaccinated against Covid-19 or have not yet completed initial doses, may receive the XBB vaccine which replaces the previous ancestral strain and bivalent vaccines.

In a press statement on Monday, the government also said that it procured 14,000 doses of XBB toddler and paediatric formulation which will be given as initial doses or booster doses to relevant children starting today.

Previously,  the XBB vaccine was made available only to high-risk priority groups which included persons aged 50 and above and those living in residential care homes, adults aged 18 to 49 with underlying comorbidities, persons aged 6 months or above with immunocompromising conditions, pregnant women and healthcare workers.

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Such groups may receive the XBB vaccine as a choice for initial and booster shots.

However, according to a scientific committee formed by the Centre for Health Protection,  a booster dose for this group is recommended to be given at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously.

The committee later recommended that the vaccination with XBB be extended to non high-risk priority groups. However, people in this group are only required to receive initial vaccination and should no longer get a booster shot.

The Government online booking system (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp) will be updated at 9am on March 27 to facilitate XBB vaccination for eligible members of the public to receive XBB vaccine.

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For the list of venues providing XBB vaccination, please visit (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/xbb_venues_dec2023_eng.pdf).

For people who have made an online booking to receive other vaccines, XBB vaccines will be provided to complete their initial vaccination in venues offering XBB vaccination services.

Experts say that XBB vaccines could provide enhanced protection against JN.1, which has become the predominant COVID-19 variant in Hong Kong.

In line with this, the government launched the XBB vaccination arrangement on Dec 14 last year, and has procured about 200,000 doses of the new vaccine. As of Mar 24, about 126,000 doses have been administered.

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Meanwhile, government experts agreed that all available Covid-19 vaccines in Hong Kong,  including inactivated virus and mRNA vaccines, remain effective in reducing death and severe COVID-19 infection. Residents may still choose to receive any of these vaccines based on personal choice.

The CHP said that local Covid-19 infection is still high. Data surveillance revealed that the positive detection rate from Mar 3 to 16 has exceeded the level recorded in the past six months.

The 50 cases classified as severe during this period also exceeded the level of about 30 cases weekly earlier this year.

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DH denies doing “odd jobs” in her employer’s restaurant

 

Some of those arrested on Feb. 19-22 (Immigration Department photo)

A domestic helper arrested in a restaurant in Central during an anti-illegal worker operation by the Immigration Department last Feb. 19, pleaded not guilty today in Shatin Court to violating her condition of stay, which requires her to work only for her employer.

Irene Allam, 43 years old, maintained that she was in the restaurant, which was owned by her employer, only to collect some items to take back to her employer’s home.

When asked by Acting Principal Magistrate Amy Chan why she was wearing an apron and rubber gloves, Allam’s lawyer said they will question the observation of the arresting officer, who was identified as the lone prosecution witness.

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Allam was accused of violating  Immigration Ordinance and Immigration Regulations by doing “odd jobs at Central”.

Under the condition of stay imposed on her on July 21, 2023, she is allowed to work only as a domestic helper for her employer under a contract approved by Immigration.

With Allam’s not-guilty plea, Magistrate Chan set a trial on May 27. She also extended the term of Allam’s bail which consisted of $2,000 in cash and $5,000 in surety.

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Chan required both prosecution and defense to submit the necessary documents and other evidence by April 30.

Allam was one of 12 suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers arrested in Immigration operations codenamed "Twilight" and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand" last Feb. 19 to 22.

A government statement said that during the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 15 target locations including bars, a guest house, premises under renovation, restaurants and retail shops, arresting nine workers and two employers.

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The workers comprised nine women, aged 28 to 54. Among them, seven women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

Three other workers were arrested in the joint operations with police.

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Filipina admits signing on as fake employer for DH, for a fee

 

A Filipina who was arrested in her house and accused of signing as the employer in a fake work contract with another Filipina, pleaded guilty today at Shatin Court to the charge of conspiracy to defraud.

But Almira Chow, 51 years old, did not immediately learn of her punishment as Acting Principal Magistrate Amy Chan adjourned the case for sentencing on May 21.

In the meantime, Magistrate Chan extended the terms of Chow’s $1,000 bail.

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The police complaint presented by the prosecution alleged that Chow, who worked as a cleaner earning $11,000 a month, signed the fake contract on a promise she would be paid $7,000.

But Chow said she received only $2,000 from the transaction, paid to her by a certain Gina Villareal, who arranged for the processing of the employment visa of another Filipina, Aprilyn Tupas, after she signed the contract.

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Villareal and another Filipino, Homer Herrera, had promised that she would be paid an additional $5,000 once the visa was approved. But both accused co-conspirators did not reappear, and Tupas never worked for her.

The complaint alleged that between 2021 and Sept. 8, 2023, Chow and the other three conspired to “defraud the Director of Immigration … and his officers by dishonetly and falely representing… that Tupas, Aprilyn Tario’s remaining in Hong Kong was for the purpose of taking up employment…”

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It said their action induced the officers “to act contrary to their public duty” to grant Tupas permission to remain in Hong Kong, “which they would not otherwise have granted.”

Under the Crimes Ordinance, the maximum penalty for this offense is imprisonment for 14 years.

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Internet voting by Filipinos overseas almost done deal, says Comelec

Lines like this will be a thing of the past once overseas voting via internet is allowed next year

The Commission on Elections has taken a step closer to allowing millions of Filipinos abroad to cast their ballots through the internet for next year’s mid-term election in the Philippines, with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with various agencies to boost voter registration and turnout.

Comelec Chairman George M. Garcia said he signed the MOA Monday, along with representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), Rotary International District 3810, and the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup).

Part of the agreement is based on the expectation that internet voting, which was approved by the Comelec en banc last year, will not be opposed by lawmakers who may have reservations about a system that could lead to massive fraud, and endanger the sanctity of the ballot

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Comelec maintains that it has the power to implement internet voting under Republic Act (RA) 9369 or the Automated Election System Act, but some Senators have argued that an enabling act is necessary to get it done.

Garcia said they agreed to implement internet voting next year as the third mode of overseas voting, apart from in-person or by mail, to make it more convenient for Filipinos abroad, especially the seafarers, to cast their votes.

Under the plan, registered Filipino voters may register their digital devices such as their mobile phones, tablet, or laptops so they can cast their votes through a Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) or touch screen scheme.

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This was also announced by Undersecretary Jesus Gary Domingo during his recent briefing to the Filipino community in Hong Kong on Mar. 17, as head of the Overseas Voting Secretariat at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“We’re almost there,” said USec Domingo, but cautioned that the measure could still face opposition from lawmakers.

He said OFW Party List Rep. Marissa del Mar-Magsino who authored the bill expanding the modes of voting for overseas Filipinos, has assured them of her support, but overseas Filipinos could help by urging their local leaders to also give it a push.

“Our target is to have it in place by the 2025 election,” said Domingo, who added that internet voting will make things a lot easier and more convenient for overseas voters.

“Internet voting will make whatever limitations you have a thing of  the past,” he added.

USec Domingo (in black barong) with Filcom leaders during the OV briefing on Mar 17

In Hong Kong, that includes waiting in line for hours to get to the voting precincts at Bayanihan Centre, especially during Sundays, when about 4,000 people cast their votes.

Domingo also said that the technology that will allow internet voting is still being developed, but the ultimate goal is to allow voters to use not just computer laptops and tablets, but also their mobile phones.

Meanwhile, Garcia said that with the landmark shift to internet voting, they hope to boost the number of Filipino voters abroad to three million, which is still just a fraction of the number of those eligible to vote.

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“There are about 10 to 15 million Filipinos abroad, but we are sad that only 1.697 million of them have registered to vote for the 2022 elections,” Garcia said.

Of the registered voters abroad, 600,000 have already been deactivated, and only another 600,000 or 40.5 percent of the remaining active voters have cast their ballots.

“Now that we announced the internet voting with your help, we hope to increase the number of voters abroad,” he said.

Comelec plans to step up its information campaign to get more overseas Filipinos to register and vote before the Sept 30, 2024 deadline for voter registration.

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Floral art from Phl wins in HK Flower Show

 

World Council Philippines' entry won the Grand Prize for Design Excellence

Among the entries from abroad that won a prize at the Hong Kong Flower Show 2024 that ended Sunday night was an entry from the World Flower Council Philippines Chapter that was handed the “Grand Award” for Design Excellence, in the Open Competition Section.

This was the same award that the group won last year, and was shared by another entry from the Philippines, the Blue Grass Project, which again took part this year, but failed to get the nod of judges.

There was no display from the Philippine Consulate this year, unlike last year when its “Pahiyas” booth was awarded a “Merit Award for Unique Feature.”

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But the major awards at the yearly display of exotic floral arrangements and horticultural works at Victoria Park were handed out to the different District Offices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) that competed in the Garden Plot and Environmental Award divisions.

Taking the top award for the Oriental Style Garden Plot Competition was Kwai Tsing District’s “Joy in Nature” while Yau Tsim Mong District’s “Birdsong” was the winner of the Environmental Award for an Oriental Style Garden.

Kwai Tsing won the top prize in Oriental Garden Plot Competition

Wan Chai District copped the two major awards: Its "Vitality from Recycle" was adjudged the best in the Western Style Garden Plot Competition, as well as the Environmental Award for its Western Style Garden.

All entries in the Garden Plot Competitions were meticulously designed by LCSD staff at the District Leisure Services Offices.

Kwai Tsing’s design was inspired by rural villages in the highland areas of Northern Thailand. Inside the plot was a Thai-style hut and garden planted with an array of dazzling flowers and trees.

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Adhering to the principle of recycling, the design included a stairway built from felled trees and adorned with environmentally friendly materials.

Yau Tsim Mong’s entry also had a Thai garden but focused on bird conservation and the need to impart to visitors the joy of connecting with nature.

Wan Chai's Western Style garden was Best in Garden Plot and Environmental Design

Wan Chai’s back-to-back winner was a garden plot that integrated ideas for greening with gardening aesthetics. The footpaths in the plot were paved with wood pieces from felled trees, while a little bridge was built with logs. The pavilion was made of recycled materials while a small greenhouse was built using plastic bottles, and a small water pool with oyster shells.

As of press time, the winners of the online voting contest called “My Most Favourite Garden Plot” has yet to be announced. Voters were asked to choose their favourites from the garden plot entries of the 18 districts, for the chance to win free air tickets.

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This year’s show dubbed “Floral Joy Around Town” with angelonia as the theme flower is organised by the LCSD, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust providing major support for the 12th consecutive year.

It is one of the events under Art March of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.

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HK Customs warns against unsafe nail polish

 

Photo from HK Customs

If you paint your nails regularly, you should not use three brands of nail polish because they may cause cancer, Hong Kong Customs has advised.

Customs said it had earlier received referrals from a related organization about the three suspected unsafe nail polish products (see photo above) being sold in Hong Kong.

Customs officers subseqeuntly conducted inspections at different districts and test-purchased the three products for safety tests by the laboratory.

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The test results showed that they all contained naphthalene which was a prohibited ingredient as stipulated in safety and technical standards for cosmetics, so the products are suspected of failing to comply with the general safety requirements of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO).

Customs also found that one of these products only bore warnings or cautions in Korean without any English and Chinese translations, which is in contravention of the Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (CGSR), a subsidiary legislation of the CGSO.

In subsequent operations, Customs officers seized 58 pieces of two of the products from a retailer and importer in Causeway Bay, and a wholesaler and importer in Sheung Wan.

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Customs officers also conducted spot checks and inspections in various districts. None of the three models has been found on sale for the time being.

An investigation is ongoing, Customs said.

Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing and using nail polish products:

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     • Read in detail the instructions for safe use of the products;

     • To avoid inhalation of harmful substances, keep windows open to ensure adequate ventilation when using the products;

     • Stop using the products and seek medical attention immediately if feeling unwell after use;

     • Do not buy or use products from doubtful sources; and

     • Purchase products at reputable retail shops.

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Members of the public with information relating to unsafe or law-breaking consumer goods may make a report via Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or by filling in an online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

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