HK forms 8 care teams for ethnic minorities

 

CS Eric Chan (middle) leads other govt officials in the launch of the EM care teams

Eight ethnic minority care teams were set up today, Sunday, and Chief Secretary Eric Chan said  two more will be added by the end of the year.

The care teams will enhance the services provided by the government-funded support centers for ethnic minorities, each with an operating annual budget of $11 million.

Chan said the care teams will provide personal visits, outreach and information services to ethnic minority members, and refer them to relevant government departments or organizations as needed.

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One of their primary tasks is to relay information to parents as to where they can send their children  to school in the district where they live.

“Most of the members of the team are also from the ethnic minority community, so they speak the same language as those they serve and can understand and respond to their needs more easily,” he said.

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Chan noted that Hong Kong has over 300,000 ethnic minority residents at present, and the government aims to help them become a more integral part of the city.

“They need to integrate into society to realise their full potential,” Chan said at the launch ceremony.

“Not only have they enriched our city's cultural diversity, but they have also contributed to its development in many ways.”  

The launch fulfils the promise made by Chief Executive John Lee  in his policy address last year of expanding support for ethnic minorities by setting up care teams across the city’s 18 districts, as well as additional support service centers for them.

The new centers that will start operating by year’s end, along with two more care teams, will be set up in Kowloon Central and in New Territories East.I

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The eight that are already operating can be found here: https://hkcscheer.net/social-welfare-services/services-for-ethnic-minorities-2/support-services-centres-for-ethnic-minorities

Among the services provided by the centers are orientation programs, language and after-school tutorials, community integration workshops, youth activities, counselling services and skills training.

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OFW group launches fund drive for Marikina flood victims

 

Some of the relief goods distributed earlier

An OFW group has launched a fund-raising drive to enable two of its members to distribute relief goods to neighbors whose homes in Barngay Tumana, Marikina City, were flooded last week by monsoon rains brought by Typhoon Carina.

“We hope we could get support from our fellow OFWs in helping flood victims in our own small way,” said Marivic Tabarnero, founder and president of Smart (Simple, Measurable, Achievable and Reliabe Team) HK.

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“We intend to send money to our members there, who will then buy the things their neighborhood actually needs,” she said.

The group distributed relief goods last week just after flood waters receded, but these were limited in quantity because this was all the group could afford, she added.

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Tabarnero

Tabarnero started the ball rolling for the second relief distribution today by approaching Filipino community leaders who attended a seminar on online voting conducted by the Commission on Elections at the Park Lane Hotel in Causeway Bay, with the help of the Consulate.

They are aiming to raise enough for a feeding program for children, as well as food and other necessities for 100 flood victims.

A substantial amount has been raised, but she declined to give details as it included pledges.

She said the group will continue the fund-raising on Sunday, fielding members to go around Hong Kong to solicit donations and also man their gathering place at the top of the outdoor escalator beside the Cheung Kong Bldg. in Central to receive donations.

She said the donations can also be sent online through this QR Code:

Tabarnero said a full accounting of the contributions and expenditures wil be made once the project is completed.

The project follows the distribution of school supples and food at McDonald’s in Silay City last July 19, organized by SMART HK member Marlie Parino, with funding from Hong Kong.

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“Thank you for your generosity and charitable contributions,” McDonad’s Silay said in a Facebook post, referring to Smart HK. “Your trust means the world to us, and we’re overjoyed to have provided such a delightful experience.”

The grroup celebrates  its 16^th anniversary this year.

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MAPAPA-WOW KA SA BAGONG SIM NG OFWS NG HONG KONG!

 

May bali-balitang malapit ng lumabas ang pinakabonggang SIM ng mga Pinoys sa Hong Kong! Ang sabi meron daw itong 3 hanggang 4 months na data plan. At ang presyo daw kada buwan ay $40 na lang?

Aba ang mura nito! Pang OFW talaga!

Unli at mabilis din daw ito kaya naman malaking tulong ito sa buhay ng ating mga domestic helpers sa Hong Kong. Kaya tutok lang sa Barkadahan sa SmarTone Facebook page para malaman ano ba itong bagong SIM na mapapa-WOW ka talaga. Para sa iba pang services ng SmarTone, tap here

https://www.barkadahansasmartone.com/service-site/BSS/view/english/AL.html.

Para updated lagi sa lahat ng offers, i-follow ang Barkadahan Sa SmarTone Facebook Page:

 https://www.facebook.com/barkadahansasmartone.

Kung may tanong, mag WhatsApp lang sa

https://www.smartone.com/hk/BSSWhatsAppCS.

Mas bongga talaga sa Barkadahan, pramis!

Barkadahan sa SmarTone 

For the OFW, with the OFW!

18 people arrested for alleged illegal streaming of karaoke songs

 

A party room in Causeway Bay was one of the premises raided

Customs officers announced Friday that they arrested 18 people in connection with the alleged unlicensed streaming of karaoke songs to party rooms and restaurants, in breach of copyright laws.

The arrests were made in a series of raids on venues between July 2 and 25, during which 39 karaoke song players and four gaming devices, as well as a number of audio and video equipment were seized. The items were valued at around $1.1 million.

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Those arrested included seven people manning the venues, six company directors, and five shop proprietors. Two of them were charged with violating the Copyright Ordinance while the rest were released on police bail.

According to the police it was the first time customs had cracked down on people suspected of providing karaoke songs via online streaming without the requisite permit.

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Traditionally, he said karaoke players used in party rooms or other venues were preloaded with songs that infringe copyright laws.

In this case, the infringing karaoke songs were stored in a data centre, which sent them on to party rooms through online streaming.

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Those raided were 31 party venues and one restaurant located in various districts, including Causeway Bay, Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan and Mong Kok.

Customs said one of the party room owners was found to have falsely claimed that the venue was licensed to screen movies and television programs for customers. 

The owner was charged with engaging in false trade descriptions in the course of its business activities, in violation of the  Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

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Pinoy gets $1 fine and hospital stay for 2 offenses

 

An Eastern magistrate imposed the sentences on the Filipino offender

A Filipino resident notched his 7^th and 8^th criminal convictions yesterday (Friday) when he pleaded guilty in two separate criminal cases at Eastern Court, but managed to get off lightly.

R.Raqueno, 35 years old, was fined a mere $1 but was ordered to pay $99 restitution for shoplifting, and was ordered confined in a hospital for three months for wielding a chopper in a public place.

After Principal Magistrate Don So gave his judgment, the defendant was seen clapping softly and swaying as he was led back to confinement by police officers,

In the first case,  a police complaint said Raqueno was seen holding a chopper in front of a laundry shop on King’s Road in North Point last July 11.

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He was waving the “offensive weapon… with intent to use the same for unlawful purpose”, the complaint added.

Although he admitted that he was waving the knife in the air, Raqueno objected to the phrase, saying he did not use it for any unlawful purpose.

After his guilty plea, Magistrate So sentenced him to a three-month hospital confinement.

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In the second case, the Filipino was found to have taken four tea cups worth $99 from another shop on King’s Road, also last July 11.

For this, Magistrate So imposed a fine of $1 and told him to pay $99 to the shop, MegaMaxx, over the next six months.

Previous reporting by The SUN indicated that he was jailed on Oct. 18, 2023 for four weeks after he admitted stealing food items worth $350 from a North Point store .

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The prosecutor told the court that he had five previous criminal convictions, mostly shoplifting.

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21 persons arrested in latest crackdown on illegal work

 

19 of those arrested are suspected of doing illegal work

Law enforcers from the Immigration Department and the police rounded up a total of 21 persons in two separate anti-illegal work operations carried out over four consecutive days until yesterday, July 25.

Those arrested comprised 19 suspected illegal worker, one employer and overstayer.

In the first series of raids, 40 locations were targeted, including premises under renovation, residential buildings, restaurants and a retail shop.

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Eleven suspected illegal workers were arrested, comprising nine men and two women, aged 19 to to 45.

Five men were found to hold recognizance forms, which prohibit them from taking up any employment. Another man held a forged Hong Kong ID card.

In separate raids in Eastern and Western districts, eight suspected illegal workers, comprising four men and four women, aged 20 to 52, were arrested. 

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One man, aged 29, was also detained on suspicion of hiring the illegal workers, as well as a female overstayer aged 43.

Doing illegal work is an offence punishable with a maximum jail term of two years and $50,000 fine.     

If the offender is an illegal immigrant, an overstayer, or is subject to a removal or deportation order, the maximum sentence is three years in jail and $50,000 fine.

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Using a forged or someone else’s HK identity card could land one in jail for up to 10 years.

The same maximum prison term is imposed on someone found to have hired the illegal workers, apart from a fine of up to $500,000.

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Kwun Tong Line to suspend train service at 4 MTR stations on Sunday for asset upgrade

 

MTR Corp hopes full services will resume the next day, Monday

MTR's Kwun Tong Line train service at four stations will be suspended on Sunday, July 28, for the company's large-scale infrastructure asset renewal in the tunnels.

The MTR Corporation said that Kwun Tong Line service will suspend at Prince Edward, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Ho Man Tin stations on 28 July but should resume normal operation the following day, Monday.

Those likely to be affected by the service adjustment, including foreign domestic helpers on their day-off, can make use of alternative railway routes which they can search on the company’s app MTR Mobile or the MTR website. They can also approach station staff as 1,000 MTR staff and contractor personnel will be deployed to assist passengers throughout the day.

 

1,000 staff will be deployed to assist commuters on Sunday

The Kwun Tong line will continue to operate between Tiu Keng Leng and Prince Edward, as well as between Ho Man Tin and Whampoa on Sunday.

Passengers can still get to Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei stations with the Tsuen Wan Line, while Ho Man Tin station is accessible with the Tuen Ma Line.

This means that Prince Edward Station will be the only interchange station between the Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line, so it is expected that the station will be very busy and crowd control measures will be implemented.

During the service adjustment, MTR will provide free bus service in collaboration with KMB in Yau Ma Tei, Ho Man Tin, and Whampoa areas.

Bus No.8 will be available for free to passengers for the whole journey, while passengers taking route No.30X will not need to pay if they board at designated bus stops.

Frequencies of both routes will be increased to every 10 minutes.

The rail operator suggests passengers plan their journeys ahead and make use of alternative railway routes.

The service adjustment is part of the railway company’s asset renewal plan which will cost HK$65 billion over a five-year period to ensure safe and reliable railway service is always provided.

DH gets 12 months’ jail for 2 money laundering cases

 

West Kowloon Courts

A Filipina domestic helper was jailed for a total of 12 months yesterday (Thursday), after pleading guilty at West Kowloon Court to allowing her two bank accounts to be used for laundering a total of $654,156.

Aida Sarac, 44 years old, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for each of the two charges brought against her, but Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui ordered that the two sentences be served concurrently, or at the same time.

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A complaint filed by HK Police had accused Sarac of dealing with property known of believed to be proceeds of indictable offense, in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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The first charge alleged that she, “together with persons known as Virginia and Kuya,” dealt with a total of $70,736.10 from Aug. 17 2018 to April 27, 2020 in her Bank of China account, “knowing or having reasonable grounds that the said property, in whole or in part, directly ot indirectly represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable offense.”

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In the second charge, police alleged that she and a certain Sheryl used Sarac’s Hang Seng Bank Account to deal with $583,420 in crime proceeds from Jan. 6, 2020 to Feb. 20, 2020.

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FDH among 3 people arrested for selling tennis bookings

 

Law enforcers carried out the anti-scalper operation at the Wan Chai tennis courts (File)

Three people, including a female foreign domestic helper, have been arrested for selling tennis court booking permits, according to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

The arrests were made on July 13 during a joint operation between LCSD, the police and Immigration Department at the tennis courts in Wong Nai Chung Road in Wanchai.

However, the three suspected scalpers were arrested at the tennis courts in Victoria Park.

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According to the LCSD, the FDH was also arrested on suspicion of breaching her condition of stay by transferring permits for the tennis court she booked in exchange for rewards.

Also among those arrested was someone suspected of using and possessing another person’s Hong Kong identity card without reasonable excuse, which also violated Immigration laws.

LCSD said further arrests cannot be ruled out as a result of these cases.

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In addition, four hirers of tennis courts were found to have violated the terms of use of recreation and sports facilities set by the LCSDm and were promptly penalized accordingly.

One of the violators was found to have used the someone else’s HKID card to check-in for a game, resulting in the LCSD suspending the booking rights of the listed hirer for 360 days, or one year.

The LCSD urges the public not to buy sessions or booking services from scalpers as the rules require that user permits are non-transferable.

Additionally, users of the LCSD’s “SmartPLAY” platform are reminded to manage their accounts responsibly, and avoid sharing their account details or disclosing their user account numbers and passwords to third parties.

Failure to provide accurate information or comply with the conditions of use of SmartPLAY bookings may lead to LCSD cancelling their account or suspending it for 180 days.

LCSD also said it will continue collaborating with law enforcement agencies in targeting touting activities and other criminal offences relating to the use of public sport facilities.

Public sports and leisure facilities are highly coveted especially during the weekends, that people anxious to book them often spend nights or early mornings trying their luck. Those who do not have the time or the patience to go through the tedious process are known to get someone else to do it for them, or buy off bookings from others. 

Tennis bookings, in particular, are difficult to come by as there are not enough facilities for the big number of people who play the sport, including many FDHs who even hold tournaments on their days off.

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Gaemi to bring rains to HK after lashing PHL and Taiwan

 

Path of Typhoon Gaemi (Photo from HK Observatory)

Hong Kong will have a rainy Sunday and some squally thunderstorms from tomorrow due to a typhoon that dumped monsoon rain on the Philippines and Taiwan yesterday and today.

While Typhoon Gaemi  (Carina in the Philippines) is too far to lash Hong Kong with its winds, it is expected to enhance the seasonal Southwest Monsoon and bring rain for six days starting tomorrow.

The typhoon, which slightly weakened as it crossed the Taiwan Strait on the way to Fujian this afternoon, has begun drawing monsoon rains to Hong Kong, with the HK Observatory expecting isolated showers to squally thunderstorms tonight.

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The rains are expected to continue tomorrow, intensifying on Saturday and peaking on Sunday, before gradually lessening over the next three days, according to HKO.

The typhoon did not land on the Philippines, but it left a swath of destruction by intensifying the southwest monsoon on most of Luzon, swamping low-lying areas such as those in the National Capital Region where flood waters exceeded levels recorded in Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

At least 13 people have been reported dead and 600,000 displaced by the flooding.

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Choppy seas whipped by Carina also sank at least one ship containing 1.5 million liters of oil off Limay, Bataan, threatening Manila Bay with a massive oil spill. Sixteen crew members of the MT  Terranova were rescued from the rough seaswhile one was found dead later. 

At least 143 flights in and out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila were cancelled yesterday.

The super typhoon then whipped Taiwan with 205kph winds, leaving at least three people dead and 300 injured, one cargo ship sunk, and most of the island flooded.

Reports say more than a thousand millimeters of rain fell over four counties and cities during a 14-hour period until this afternoon, resulting in widespread flooding in the centre and north of the island. 

Tugboats were used to rescue stranded residents in Shuishang county in Taiwan (BBC photo)

The capital, Taipei, was however, largely spared with public transportation still running, although schools, offices, shops and banks remain closed for the day.

Meanwhile, Taiwan officials say there were nine Myanmar nationals aboard the Tanzania-registered cargo vessel Fu Shun, but they are unable to mount a rescue operation yet because of severe weather conditions.

Authorities in the Chinese southeastern province of Fujian  are bracing for Gaemi's arrival tonight.  

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DH charged with laundering $2.3M in her bank account

 

The case was heard at Tuen Mun Court

Another domestic helper appeared in Tuen Mun Court today, charged with money laundering because $2.3 million in proceeds from crime passed through her bank account.

Maureen Joy Romero, 41 years old, was remanded in jail custody after the hearing.

Her case was adjourned to Sept. 19.

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Romero is charged under sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, for dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable crime, the legal definition of money laundering.

The complaint filed by the Technology and Financial Crime Squad of the Yuen Long Police charged that Romero’s account with Mox Bank Limited received deposits of $2,296,076 duringthe 10-day period from March 14 to 24.

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The amount, the complaint said, “in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an  indictable offense….” 

The offense carries the maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment and $5 million in fine.

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Filipino detained after missing court hearing

 

Place where alleged offense happened

A Filipino who was out on bail for allegedly assaulting a local man in Central, was remanded in jail today after he failed to show up at his hearing at Eastern Court, and was ordered arrested by Principal Magistrate Don So.

J. Dagohoy, 37 years old, surrendered to the court later in the day, resulting in the warrant for his arrest being cancelled.

His original bail of $500, however, was forfeited.

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He is scheduled to appear again tomorrow (July 25), for a chance to ask to be allowed to post bail again.

As Dagohoy has pleaded not guilty, his trial is scheduled for September 3.

The case arose from a confrontation he allegedly had with Cheung Chung-yiu in front of the Bangkok Bank Bldg., on Des Voeux Road, Central, last March 9.

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Common assault is punishable under the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance with imprisonment of up to one year.

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