Driver-less mini buses to ply Yuen Long route

 

One of the light buses being tested

People are expected to flock to Fairview Park in Yuen Long on Aug. 31 to be among the first to ride the driver-less electric mini bus which will undergo seven months of tests.

The units of the autonomous light bus promise a smooth experiene along the 2.5km loop road in the housing estate.

The light buses use an autonomous driving system developed by Hong Kong’s Automotive Platforms & Application Systems R&D Centre, featuring an artificial intelligence (AI) system that replaces human drivers, a government announcement said.

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 “We slow down the bus for the speed bumps in a very smooth manner so that the people who ride on it will feel very comfortable. And apart from that, when the vehicle is parked or moved into the bus stop, we ensure that it is parked as close as possible to the bus stop. For a normal driver, it is easy, but for the autonomous vehicle, we need to do a lot of adjustments to do it that way,” said Lawrence Cheung, chief executive officer of the center.

The light buses each have 15 radars and recognition cameras installed to gather real-time data about their surroundings.

These sensors are mated by the AI system to self-built high-definition electronic maps and image processing technology to analyze road conditions and achieve precise positioning.

Additionally, 5G technology is used to monitor the vehicle’s condition in real time through smart lampposts.

The center has been developing and testing the system for two years, including road tests on the Mainland for initial vehicle safety and reliability, which led to the trial run in Fairview Park.

“In Fairview Park, I think the road itself is very suitable for doing autonomous vehicle (AV) testing, because the road is quite wide and it has a lot of speed bumps. So the average speed of cars on the road is quite slow,” the center’s, explained.

To ensure driving safety, the Transport Department reviewed various information submitted by the center, including relevant test reports of the same types of vehicles on the Mainland, before the trial run. Additionally, the two autonomous light buses had to undergo inspection.

“During the trial, we limit the testing speed and testing routes as well as verify the qualifications of the backup operator. Such things are under the Transport Department’s supervision,” Transport Department Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer (Bus Safety) Janet Lam said.

Along with the Fairview Park project, there are currently eight autonomous vehicles undergoing trials across the city. All of them have reached Level 4 of the six autonomous driving levels when it comes to international standards, which is on par with that of the Mainland and also the rest of the world.

To provide more flexibility for the industry to conduct trials and utilise autonomous vehicle technology, Ms Lam added that the Government implemented new legislation in March.

“Under the new regulation, the autonomous vehicles can be registered and licensed under the licensing system and regulated by the current legislation. They can also have more comprehensive uses, such as the carriage of passengers for hire and reward.”

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Filipina DH collapses and dies in Happy Valley

The FDH collapsed and died inside a flat at the government quarters in Happy Valley

A 63-year-old Filipina domestic helper was reported to have died yesterday afternoon at the Government Civil Servants quarters in Happy Valley.

Police said they received a report at 1:33pm that a woman had fallen unconscious in one of the flats in the government quarters located at no 111 Mount Butler Road, Jardine’s Lookout.

Rescue workers who responded declared the woman dead at the scene.

Her cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.

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In the meantime the case has been classified as “dead body found.”

Staff at the Migrant Workers Office say the Filipina’s employer has been in touch with them and is helping work on the repatriation of her remains.

She had reportedly worked for the same employer for more than 20 years and had no known ailment.

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Trade unions call for halt of labor import scheme

Local construction workers are in short supply even if the industry is in a slump

Industries that have been clamouring for permission to import staff from overseas are struggling, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Federation of  Trade Unions.

In the study published yesterday, Sunday, businesses that have seen the highest influx of foreign workers like in retail, construction and food sectors, are shown to have the highest unemployment rates, and are fighting to keep afloat.

Nearly 30% of the respondents reported a drop in income, while almost 50% expressed uncertainty about future job prospects.

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Understandably, 60% of them disapprove of the foreign labour import scheme, with 84% believing it reduces job opportunities for local workers and 72% saying it brings down wages.

The construction sector, where salaries have jumped considerably because of staff shortages, has ironically been hit by a massive slowdown.

According to Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, the number of private construction projects, which account for nearly half of the industry’s revenue, has plummeted by almost 90% since last year. 

Thus, while construction workers from the mainland had been allowed to enter the industry, many architects and workers have reportedly been placed on unpaid leave.

The food and beverage sector has also suffered a slump because of the recent trend of Hong Kong people going across the border to shop and dine because of considerably lower prices.

According to Yu Kim-hung, vice chairman of the Eating Establishment Employees General Union, the long hours, heavy workload and physically demanding nature of the industry, has discouraged new entrants, while prompting young chefs to seek opportunities abroad.

The unions have urged the government to halt the importation of foreign workers and introduce measures to attract more local people to the struggling industries by reviewing working hours, wages and job security.

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OFWs in war-town Lebanon start going home

 

The evacuees from Lebanon are welcomed at Manila airport by DMW staff

The first overseas Filipino workers and their families to leave Lebanon arrived in Manila Saturday night.

The evacuees comprised 15 OFWs and children, who decided to flee Lebanon amid intensified fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that the OFWs were immediately given assistance, including funds for reintegration, after they requested for repatriation.

Their return was coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or OWWA.

A day earlier, the DMW appealed to all Filipinos in Lebanon to leave immediately to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

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“The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon strongly urges all Filipino citizens to leave Lebanon immediately while the airport remains operational. We advise all Filipino nationals to prioritize their safety and depart the country as soon as possible,” said a statement posted by the DMW on its Facebook page on Friday.

“If you are unable to leave Lebanon, we strongly recommend that you evacuate to safer areas outside of Beirut, South Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.”

OWWA in turn appealed to Filipinos to convince OFWs in Lebanon to return home, stressing that the safety of the Filipino workers is the utmost priority.

However, migration experts say it might be difficult for some Filipinos to leave Lebanon as they are undocumented. Those who have proper documents, on the other hand, hesitate about going home for fear of losing their jobs.

Those who need help with repatriation are encouraged to fill out a form through the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/2024Repatriation

They may also contact the following numbers:

For all OFWs (documented or undocumented): +961 79110729

For OFs (dependents with Permanent Resident status, i.e., wife iqama): +961 70858086

The safety and security of every Filipino citizen is our top priority. We urge you to act swiftly and follow the above instructions to ensure your safety.

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3 mainland tourists arrested for moonlighting as photographers

 

One of two women photographers from the mainland is shown being arrested

If you come in as tourists in Hong Kong, you should not take up any work, paid or unpaid, or you could be arrested for breaching your condition of stay.

This was what three mainland tourists learned the hard way, after they were arrested by immigration agents over two consecutive days for allegedly moonlighting as photographers upon entering Hong Kong. 

According to a statement issued by the Immigration Department on Friday, the three, comprising a man and two women aged between 25 and 30, were among several mainlanders who had been advertising cheap wedding and street photography services in Hong Kong.

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They would enter as tourists and charge fees ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.

Immigration agents pretended to be customers and arrested the three suspects while they were taking photos of their clients. Seized from the suspects were smartphones and photographic equipment.

The department said it cannot rule out further arrests, and reiterated the warning that taking up illegal work, or hiring people not lawfully employable, are serious offences.

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In this particular case, anyone who hires the services of the suspected illegal workers could also be held liable.

Immigration said it would strengthen enforcement actions against illegal employment and “seek various means to publicise the serious consequences of employing illegal workers in order to raise public awareness of the issue.”

It warned that any person who is “found organising, arranging or instigating others to commit serious crimes such as employing illegal workers," will be arrested.

The maximum penalty for illegal work is two years imprisonment and a fine of $50,000. Those who employ them could be jailed for up to ten years and fined a maximum of $500,000. 

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Filipina jailed 12 weeks for using expired work contract to get $36K loan

 

The defendant appeared at Kowloon City Court 

A Filipina domestic helper who has been in detention since June, was today sentenced at Kowloon City Court to 12 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to submitting an expired employment contract so she could be granted a loan of $36,000.

Counting the days she has served along with holidays and weekends which are deducted from her sentence, Aleya A. Facundo, 41 years old, may be free by middle of September.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Ko Wai-hung accepted Facundo’s plea on Friday (Aug. 16) after putting if off from July 19.

Facundo had been charged with fraud for taking out the loan on Nov 27, 2023 at Prime Credit’s office in Tsim Sha Tsui, falsely representing that she was still employed as a domestic helper.

She was arrested on June 19 after Prime Credit complained to police.

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After an investigation, the Yuen Long PolIce filed information accusing Facundo of inducing staff at the money lending company to immediately approve the loan, “resulting in prejudice or a substantial risk of prejudice to Prime Credit Limited.” 

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It’s not “finders keepers” in HK

Airbus terminal at the airport

If you find something of value by accident, such as a wallet in a bus, do not pick it up. Or you may pick it up but you must turn it over immediately to police or the bus driver.

This was the lesson learned by a Filipino who works as a technician at the airport in Chek Lap Kok, who appeared Friday (Aug. 16) at Tuen Mun Court facing two charges as result of picking up a wallet in Bus A36 travelling from the airport to Yuen Long “on an unknown day” last February.

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P.R. Talamor, 35 years old, was charged with theft of the wallet which contained a Hong Kong ID card, an Octopus card with a value of $100, and $500 in cash, according to a police complaint filed last June 28. 

Last April 5 when Police found out that he still had the ID card two months after he found the wallet, Talamor was also charged with illegal possession of a HKID card that belongs to someone else, in violation of the Registration of Persons Ordinance.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Daniel Tang scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 2.

Talamor was set free on a cash bail of $100. 

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DMW increases cash aid to distressed OFWs

 

The Department Order mandating the increased benefits

The Department of Migrant Workers has increased the amount of its financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers in distress, or under certain circumstances, to their next-of-kin, to between P50,000 and P100,000.

Previously, the one-off cash grant was limited to Php30,000 per OFW, except those who returned from war-torn countries, who received Php50,000 each.

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The increased aid was provided under Under Department Order No. 05, series of 2024 which was published last Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Under the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund which was set up last year, the intended beneficiaries include those who are experiencing financial hardships due to human-induced emergencies such as human trafficking and illegal recruitment. OFWs in such situations will receive Php50,000.

DMW lists down distressed OFWs qualified to receive Php50k

Also entitled to the same amount are OFWs who are severely affected and/or displaced due to economic downturn or recession in the host country, bankruptcy or downsizing of the company or the employer, and those who are victim of abuse, exploitation, maltreatment, or contract violations; and the immediate family members of jailed OFWs.

The amount is raised to Php75,000  if the OFW has a severe illness, injury or mental health condition; has experienced abuse and exploitation resulting in physical or mental disability, injuries, or mental health condition; or is displaced due to war, political unrest, and/or other extraordinary circumstances. The same amount will be granted to the next of kin of OFWs on death row.

OFWs with serious illnesses are among those qualified to get Php75k

Those entitled to receive the biggest cash assistance of Php100,000 are the immediate relatives of OFWs who passed away in the host country due to natural or accidental causes, or those who died within one year from arrival in the Philippines.

The money grant is separate from OWWA benefits, which include the Php100,000 or P200,000 given to the family of members who die onsite, depending on whether the death was due to natural causes or accident; and the Php20,000 in burial assistance.

Relatives of OFWs who die at work or shortly after returning home, could claim Php100k

The DMW Aksyon Fund which was set up last year, has a Php2.8 billion budget allocation for 2023.

Those who request for financial assistance and meet the criteria set under the DMW circular shall submit their application along with the required documents onsite, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), or to DMW offices if the worker is already in the Philippines, within one year after arriving in the country. The cash aid will be paid through bank transfer, cash, money remittance, or any other cost-effective mode that can be utilized.

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(Read the full Department Order here: https://dmw.gov.ph/.../DMW/ISN-EXT/2024/DMW-DO-05-2024.pdf)

Earlier this month, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac  said that nearly Php1billion from the Aksyon Fund had been disbursed to extend legal and labor assistance to at least 52,000 workers, and financial assistance to 10,000 others.

Cacdac said the DMW and its attached agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), have responded to appeals for help by  OFWs, especially those affected by the Sudan humanitarian crisis that erupted in April 2023, and the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas that started in October last year. 

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Visit “Give Care to Our Caregivers Service Fair” this Sunday

 

Blood glucose testing at a previous event

The Mission For Migrant Workers will bring its “Give Care to Our Caregivers Service Fair” to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay on Sunday, Aug. 18, offering various services for free to all foreign domestic workers.

The event is timed to coincide with the celebration of Independence Day by the Indonesian Community, the Mission said in an announcement.

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Everyone is welcome at Victoria Park’s Grass field.from 10am to 5pm to join in the activities, it added.

The services to be provided for free to visitors include guidance and case support by Mission volunteers, blood pressure-taking, chiropractic adjustment by professionals, blood glucose testing, massage and many others provided by partner organizations.

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“Give Care to Our Caregivers Service Fair” is a regular Sunday project of the MFMW held in various venues to give recognition to the contributions of foreign domesric workers to Hong Kong.

Established in 1981, MFMW is the longest existing independent service provider for migrant workers in Hong Kong and Asia. It is an outreach program of the St. John’s Cathedral of HK Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican).

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Tulfo urges faster action on Mabatid's case as NBI seeks support for complainants

 

Tulfo wants the case against PCVC and Mabatid resolved by next month

An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation has asked Senator Raffy Tulfo who heads the Senate Committee for Migrant Workers, to better protect victims of illegal recruiters and law enforcers tasked with helping them, saying those they complain about resort to harassment and intimidation to prevent their being hauled to court.

Agent PaulFred Tombali suggested to Senator Tulfo during a committee hearing on Monday, Aug 12,on several cases of unresolved illegal recruitment, that complainants as well as investigators in these cases should be given immunity from suit.

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In reply, Tulfo said investigators should act more quickly on the complaints so cases could be filed immediately, and warrants of arrests issued accordingly, against the culprits.

Tombali cited as an example a recent attempt by Prisca Nina Mabatid, named as chief executive officer of PinoyCare Visa Center and Opportunities Abroad, to get Cebu City prosecutors to recommend the filing of unjust vexation chages against three complainants against her and her associates.

Tombali is asking immunity for complainants, investigators

Luckily, the Cebu prosecutors decided to dismiss her complaint on June 18 without even conducting a preliminary investigation, citing a lack of probable cause. The fiscals mentioned that the respondents were merely asserting their right as alleged victims of an illegal recruitment, a case that was brought up not only in the media, but also during a Senate hearing.

In a separate briefing with OFW complainants in Hong Kong last month, a DMW official disclosed that even they were receiving threats for pursuing the cases. 

The three complainants are pursuing a case of large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa against Mabatid and PCVC staff Adam Hechanova, Ma Teresa Binghay and Jhearlyn Jabellana, for allegedly luring them to pay around P139,000 each, after promising them student visas to Canada which never materialized.

Tombali, who is tasked with pursuing the various complaints against Mabatid and her PCVC group, said it would also help if they are given more funding to help the complainants, some of whom have to travel far to attend hearings and investigations.

Apart from a case filed on behalf of the three by the Department of Migrant Workers with the Laguna Prosecutors Office, the NBI has recommended the filing of similar charges against Mabatid and several other people with the Department of Justice in Manila.

Asked by Tulfo on the progress of the investigation, Tombali said the case was already submitted for resolution by the DoJ last month. On further prompting, he said it is possible a decision on whether a case will be filed in court will be issued by September.

Mabatid often posts photos of her with powerful politicians like Tulfo on social media

“Aabangan ko yan,” (I will watch out for that) said Tulfo, who added he wanted warrants of arrest to be issued against the accused, and for them to be put on the Immigration watchlist “kasi ayaw ko naman na patuloy silang mag re recruit.”

Large-scale illegal recruitment and syndicated estafa are both non-bailable offences for which the prescribed maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

Earlier, Tulfo complained that it was taking the investigators a long time to act against the alleged illegal recruiters who he said had connived with some local government officials and even dared use his name, in perpetuating the alleged scam.

The Senate hearing also focused on complaints by dozens of would-be OFWs who claimed to have been illegally recruited by a certain Francia Bagasan who promised them jobs in Canada and Japan, but were abandoned after paying up to P130,000 each in processing fees.

The complainants said that a certain Joel Capua, who took part in the recruitment, had claimed to be an employee of the Bureau of Immigration. This claim was subsequently denied by the BI during an interview.

Responding to the complaints, DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said many illegal recruiters are able to victimize a lot of people because of their grassroots-level connections. He said government agencies should step up their information dissemination at this level to curb the problem.

“Yung kanilang kakayahang manghikayat, ‘yung tamis ng kanilang mga dila at mga pangako, ‘101%,’ ‘yung mga ganoon, marami pa ring kumakagat sa mga ganong pain. Maaaring hindi fully or adequately informed, so I will still attribute this to a continuing information platform or program,” said Cacdac.

Cacdac says information at the grassroots is important to trump illegal recruitment

(There are still many Filipinos who take the bait because of recruiters’ ability to convince, and their sweet words and promises like “101%.” It is likely they are still not fully or adequately informed, so I will still attribute this to the need for a continuing information platform or program).

Cacdac mentioned a “barangay-level intervention” program with the Department of the Interior and Local government which aims to put a stop to this practice, saying that some barangays, wittingly or unwittingly, become active participants in illegal recruitment.

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3-year-old girl dies after being hit by tram

 

The young girl and her grandfather were pinned under the tram

(UPDATED)

A tram accident on Des Voeux Road West has killed a three-year-old girl and injured her older  sister, their grandfather, and their domestic helper.

Reports indicate the tram struck the young girl, her 6-year-old elder sister, their 66-year-old grandfather and 24-year old helper as they were crossing the road outside the Kennedy Town swimming pool in Sai Wan at 10:44 am this Thursday. 

The younger girl and the grandfather were trapped under the tram, and had to be freed by rescuers.

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The girl was bleeding from the head and was unconscious when rushed to Queen Mary Hospital while her grandfather suffered serious head injuries but was conscious. The girl was declared dead at 12:26pm.

The older girl was treated at the hospital with a bleeding head while their helper sustained leg injuries. They remained confined in hospital, along with the grandfather, as of this writing.

Subsequent reports said the little girld was with her grandfather, and the older one with the helper, when the incident happened.

They had reportedly crossed the road on a red traffic light and were looking the other way when they were hit by the tram.

The driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is still being detained for questioning. 

Tram services between Kennedy Town Terminus and Hill Road were temporarily suspended following the incident.

In July last year, a 41-year-old man died after being knocked down by a tram and getting trapped underneath it on Des Voeux Road Central in Sheung Wan.

Police arrested the tram driver, a 35-year-old man, on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death. 

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High Court rejects asylum bid of ex-FDH who overstayed

 

The High Court, where the Court of First Instance holds it proceedings 

A former domestic helper from Bulacan has failed to convince the High Court to review the denial of her application for asylum in Hong Kong, which she based on fear that a former boyfriend would harm or kill her for leaving him.

Analyn Alenio, 39 years old, had appealed to the High Court after the Immigration Department and the Torture Claims Appeal Board rejected non-refoulement claim for failing to meet the standard test for asylum applications.

“… 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 or merits in her intended application,” declared the Court of First Instance ruling dated dated Aug. 8, 2024 and signed by Chung Lai Fan for the High Court Registrar on order by Deputy High Court Judge Bruno Chan.

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”…  judicial review is not an avenue for revisiting the assessment by them in the hope that the court may consider the matter afresh,” the decision said, citing previous cases.

Alenio last arrived in Hong Kong on Aug. 14, 2020 to work as a domestic helper. However, her employment was terminated on Oct. 20, 2022, and she did not leave after her 14-day visa extension expired.

She was arrested by police six months later on May 4, 2023, was subsequently convicted of overstaying and jailed for 15 months.

While in jail, she filed her non-refoulement claim for protection from being deported, claiming that she would be harmed or killed by her former boyfriend, with whom she bore three children, because she wanted to separate from him for having an affair with another woman.

That claim was rejected by the Immigration Department, which noted that she failed to meet all the applicable grounds including risk of torture, risk of her absolute or non-derogable rights under the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and risk of persecution.

The department also noted that this “was a private relationship dispute between the 2 of them only without any official involvement that state or police protection would be available to the Applicant if resorted to, and that reliable and objective Country of Origin Information (“COI”) show that reasonable internal relocation alternatives are available in the Philippines with a large population of 117 million people spread across a vast territory of more than 298,000 square kilometers.”

Alenio appealed to the Torture Claims Appeal Board, where she gave evidence and answered questions in a hearing on Dec. 18, 2023, but her appeal was dismissed on Dec. 22 on the same grounds.

She brought the case to the Court of First Instance on April 19, 2024 – almost one month later than  the three months allowed to file an appeal – and did not give a “proper ground” for the judicial review, other than giving “a regurgitation of her claim as before of fear of harm from her former boyfriend….” The ruling noted.

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2 students admit stealing H&M clothes; sentencing put off

 

Shop where theft happened (Google Maps photo)

Two Filipino students pleaded guilty today at Eastern Court and were convicted of stealing clothes at an H&M store in Causeway Bay.

But the sentencing for P. Basiuang, 20 years old, and L.J. Centeno, aged 18, was put off to Aug. 28 to wait for the probationary officer and community service officer report ordered by Principal Magistrate Don So.

The two reports will be the basis for their penalties.

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In the meantime, Basiuang and Centeno were released on bail of $500 each.

The two admitted that last April 15, they stole two black T-shirts, one black vest, one grey T-shirt, one pair of white socks, one pair of black pants and one pair of beige socks at the H&M store at the Fashion Walk on Paterson St. in Causeway Bay.

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