Labour cancels job agency’s license to place DHs

 

The Labour Department (LD) has cancelled the license of an employment agency that places foregn domestic helpers, for violations of the law and the Code of Practice for employment agencies (EAs).

Labour announced the revocation of the EA license of JB Employment Agency (JB) in Kwun Tong – the first such cancellation for 2024 -- as it reminded EA operators that it was monitoring their compliance.

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The LD said it revoked JB Employment’s licence for failure to comply with the Code, including failing to draw up service agreements with employers during provision of services; failing to provide employers with receipts for service fees charged; failing to brief employers on the laws relevant to employment of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and their rights and obligations; failing to provide employers with guidebooks, leaflets, information pamphlets and sample forms on the rights and benefits of FDHs; and failing to ask employers to confirm in writing that they have received the signed originals of standard employment contracts.

 “Under section 53(1)(c)(iva) of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) (EO), the Commissioner for Labour (the Commissioner) may revoke the licence of an EA if she is satisfied that the licensee concerned has not complied with the Code,” LD said.

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 "The Code sets out the salient legal requirements that EA operators must observe in operating their business, as well as the standards which the Commissioner expects from EA,” LD said.

“The EO stipulates that the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a licence, or may revoke a licence, if she is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee of an EA, or a related person of or an individual employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee, has contravened any provision of Part XII or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO, such as overcharging job seekers or operating an EA without a licence, or has not complied with the Code issued under section 62A(1) of the EO," the LD said.

It advised those who want to ask about matters related to EAs or complain about suspected Code violations by agencies, to contact the Employment Agencies Administration (telephone: 2115 3667; email: ea-ee@labour.gov.hk; address: Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon).

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OV registration tally in HK expected to top 90k, despite absence of queues

 

Yesterday was the only day Filipinos were seen lining up to register for the 2025 overseas voting

The lure of being among the first to vote online for next year’s mid-term election in the Philippines failed to inspire more Filipinos in Hong Kong to rush and register as a voter, judging from the absence of queues in the lobby of Unite Centre building, where the Philippine Consulate is located.

The nearly two-year-long overseas voter registration ended today, September 30, with practically nobody trying to beat the deadline.

The only sizeable crowd was seen yesterday, the last Sunday of registration for the month-long overseas voting for the senatorial election which will be held from April 13 to May 12 next year.

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But fewer than 100 people queued up to go to the 14^th or 29^th floor of the building, where the registration had taken place since December 9, 2022.

This was in stark contrast to the hundreds, even thousands, who lined up for hours in the last days of registration for the 2022 presidential election, even amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vice Consul Jose Angelo Manuel, who overseas the overseas registration and voting, said the Consulate even extended its work hours to 5pm yesterday in anticipation of a last-minute rush, but no one came after the usual cut-off time of 4pm.

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But despite the lukewarm response, VC Manuel said the Consulate still expects the number of registered voters to hit “roughly between 90,000 and 95,000.”

He hastened to add that the final tally would still depend on the Commission of Elections in Manila, which has the sole authority to de-register voters who did not comply with requirements, or for failing to vote in the two last elections.

However, the figure is still close to the 93,265 people who registered to vote in the 2022 presidential election, for which there was a record turnout, despite the raging pandemic.

Vice Consul Manuel says the challenge now is how to steer 90k-odd voters through internet voting

Manuel said that based on previous trends, it is not likely that the turnout in next year’s vote would top that record, as mid-term elections do not attract as much interest as a presidential contest. Registration figures also reflect this.

There is also a tendency for Filipinos to hold off registering to vote until the last minute.

But some of those who queued up to register at the Consulate yesterday said they were only alerted about the looming deadline after reading about it in The SUN. They said they did not see any recent reminder from the Consulate about it.

Manuel said they never failed to remind Filipinos, either those who come by the Consulate for some services, or those they meet at community gatherings, to register if they have not done so yet.

“Kapag may pumupunta dito for some services, we would tell them, mag-register kayo. Pero sasabihin lang nila, next time na lang, busy ako. Tapos ayun nga, last minute magre register sila,” said Manuel.

(Whenever Filipinos could come here for services, we would tell them to register. But they would say they would just do it next time as they are busy. So now, many of them will register at the last minute).

The Consulate was virtually empty in the final hours of OV registration

With the registration period over, the Consulate’s attention will now shift to making sure there will be no hitches during next year’s landmark voting process. And the first step towards this is to work on the pre-registration of voters, which will be done over a month, coinciding with the actual overseas election.

Manuel said they expect this to pose real challenges, given the big number of registered voters in Hong Kong, the biggest in any city abroad.

There is also the need to inform voters thoroughly about the new method of voting. Relative to this, he said voters should have gadgets that are internet-capable and an email address they should have full control over, so they will not encounter any problems in casting their ballots.

Internet voting should be easy, he said, as voters can do it wherever they may be, as long as they have a steady internet connection. But for those who still want to be guided through the process, a number of voting kiosks will be set up, where they will be assisted by authorized people.

Manuel said the Comelec will do a run-through of the process between February and April next year, and he hopes some voters could participate and help iron out whatever kinks there may still be in the system. 

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19 more people arrested in anti-illegal work blitz

 

Some of those arrested are led away by Immigration agents

A total number of 19 people were arrested in the latest anti-illegal  work sweep by the Immigration Department, carried out for four consecutive days, on Sept 23 to 26.

Those arrested included 15 suspected illegal workers, two employers, one overstayer and one illegal immigrant.

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In the initial raids on 37 target locations which included a garage,  restaurant and premises under construction, six suspected illegal workers were arrested, all men, aged 24 to 43.

In subsequent sweeps of 71 locations in Eastern, Mong Kok and Western Districts, nine suspected illegal workers were arrested, along with two employers, one overstayer and one illegal immigrant.

The workers comprised two men and seven women, aged 28 to 64. One of the women was found in possession of a forged HKID card.

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The suspected employers were both women aged 48 and 59. Also arrested were one female overstayer, aged 35; and a female illegal immigrant, aged 43.

Immigration warned that taking up illegal work is a serious offence for which a jail term is inevitable.

The maximum sentence for working in violation of the visa restrictions is two years imprisonment and $50,000 fine. The prison term could be as long as three years if the offender is an overstayer, illegal immigrant or recognizance holder.

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Possessing a forged HK identity card could draw a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and up to $100,000 in fine.

Employers could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $500,000.

Meanwhile, Immigration also announced that an Indian illegal worker who is on recognizance was ordered jailed on Sept 25  for working illegally while delivering fish at the Cheung Sha Wan Food Market.

He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after trial. He was meted a jail term of 22 months and two weeks.

Immigration reiterated its warning that people holding recognizance documents are not allowed to work, whether paid or unpaid.

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Fireworks and drone display set for Oct 1

 

Preview of the 8th scene, 'Magnificent Scenes of China'

The government has announced that a fireworks display will light up the sky over Victoria Harbour at 9pm as part of the National Day celebrations on October 1, Tuesday.

Weather permitting, a drone show will be staged for the first time before the fireworks display.

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A total of 31, 888 firing shells will be discharged from three barges and six pontoons from the Harbour, lasting about 23 minutes.

The planned two-way extravaganza is co-ordinated by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, and is sponsored by the Hong Kong Chinese Importers & Exporters' Association.

The 7th scene showing unity among peoples in China

This year’s display will have as theme, "Splendid fireworks shining over a prosperous China". The fireworks display will be divided into eight scenes, each with its own characteristics.

The first scene, "75th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China", will be highlighted with images of red five-pointed stars and purple five-petal flowers.

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The sixth scene, "The Legend of Pandas", which will be mostly in green color, will show images of pandas' favourite food such as bamboo leaves to express Hong Kong’s appreciation for their arrival.

The seventh scene, "Auspicious Treasures" showcases different kinds of ring-shaped fireworks, symbolising the strong bond and harmony among the various ethnic groups in China.

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The fireworks display will reach its climax in the last scene, "The Magnificent Scenes of China", which will feature symbols of blessings to all, such as "Chinese Red", "Big Whistle" and "Gorgeous Golden Crown" images, as well as wishes for continued prosperity and peace for the nation.

The lavish display can be seen from many vantage points on both sides of the harbour including Tsim Sha Tsui, the Mid-Levels, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and the Hung Hom Bypass.

The 6th scene welcomes the arrival of pandas in HK

To better enjoy the show, viewers are invited to tune in to Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 (FM 97.6 to 98.9) for synchronised music.

Meanwhile, pedestrians should take note of special crowd management measures in the Tsim Sha Tsui area that will be implemented by the police, including the closure of both the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Space Museum at 6pm.

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Waterspout spotted over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour for first time

 

The waterspout swirled over Victoria Harbour and moved rapidly from east to west

 A waterspout over Victoria Harbour was spotted and recorded by a number of people on Saturday afternoon, sparking both amazement and fear.

The Hong Kong Observatory reported the sighting at around 12:30pm when a rapidly rotating water column begun swirling over the harbour from east to west, before disappearing. It reportedly lasted just about two minutes.

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It was the first time that a waterspout had been reported in the harbour since records began in 1959, said the Observatory.

While the water column was relatively small and did not last long, it could have been disastrous if it happened while there were people out at sea.

Rapidly swirling water at the bottom of the spout

According to video uploaders, the waterspout which many called "water tornado", formed in the sea off North Point in the Island Eastern Corridor, then rapidly grew vertically and moved toward the west.

It dissipated after reportedly hitting a wall at the outdoor Tai Wan Shan swimming pool in Hung Hom, generating strong winds and a big splash of water.

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One of the videos of the waterspout uploaded on video is shown here:  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1206322110600213

The Observatory said earlier that an upper-air disturbance is affecting the eastern part of the territory, bringing unsettled weather to the area.

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It also warned of severe winds, potentially exceeding 90 kilometers an hour.

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Filipina’s 3 bank accounts linked to $8.83M money laundering

 

A Filipina domestic helper is facing three money laundering charges at Eastern Court after three of her bank accounts ended up being used to deal with a total of $8.83 million from victims of scams.

Lynie Acosta, 39 years old, was freed on a cash bail of $5,000 after Principal Magistrate Don So, adjourned the hearing to Oct. 3.

A complaint filed in court by the police Financial Investigation Division on Thursday (Sept. 26) and heard the same day, charged Acosta with three counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offense, in violation of section 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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The complaint alleged that Acosta’s Mox Bank account received the biggest chunk of the funds, amounting to $8,597,833.36, between March 25 and May 19, 2023.

Police alleged that she dealt with the property with the help of two persons, one named Jane Corpuz and another unknown.

The same persons were also cited as helping Acosta in dealing with $192,940.08 in her account with the Standard Chartered Bank on March 31, 2023.

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On the same day, she and the two persons were also alleged to have dealt with $45,100.78 in her account with with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank.

Meanwhile, at District Court, another Filipina, Leahlyn Pamonag, was returned to jail custody after appearing before Judge C.P. Pang.

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Pamonag is accused of conspiring with an unknown person in dealing with a total of $3,075,807.90 in her Standard Chartered bank account, while knowing, or having reasonable ground to believe, that the money came from crime.

She was told to return on Nov. 11.

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Public vigilance urged against dengue fever, mosquito-borne diseases

 

How the dengue mosquito looks like (CDC photo)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has urged the public to stay vigilant against dengue fever (DF) and other mosquito-borne diseases, especially with the surge in the number of people arriving and leaving Hong Kong for the National Day festivities from Sept. 28 to Oct. 7.

“Members of the public who intend to travel (should) stay alert to the situation of mosquito-borne diseases in their destinations,” CHP advised. “Members of the public (should) adopt necessary anti-mosquito precautions to guard against the disease when travelling abroad.”

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If they develop symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms, rash or painful swelling, they should inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment, CHP added.

CHP noted the increase in DF activity in neighboring areas, noting that of the 67 imported cases reported from Jan. 1 to Sept. 23, seven had flown in from the Philippines, as well as 17 from Indonesia, and eight each from India, Maniland China and Malaysia and six from Thailand.

 “According to information from the Singapore Ministry of Health, a total of 11 847 DF cases have been recorded from January to September 14 this year, which is higher when compared to 6 755 cases recorded in the same period in 2023,” it said. “In addition, Malaysia has recorded 98 442 cases from January to September 7 this year, which was a 19.3 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.”

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In Guangdong, the Health Commission reported that DF cases recorded in the past three months have been increasing, with 233 and 1 220 cases in July and August, and more than 1 400 DF cases in the first half of September, mostly recorded in Foshan, Guangzhou and Zhongshan.

The World Health Organization reported that since the beginning of 2024, the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina and Peru, have recorded over 11 million cases, a record number.

The following measures on mosquito control could reduce the chance of acquiring mosquito-borne disease during travel:

• Wear loose, light-colored, long-sleeved tops and trousers;
• Use DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing. For details about the use of insect repellents and the key points to be observed, please refer to 'Tips for using insect repellents'; and
• When engaging in outdoor activities, avoid using fragrant cosmetics or skin care products, re-apply insect repellents according to instructions, and apply insect repellents after sunscreen if both are used.

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These preautions will also help them avoid other mosquito-borne diseases including Japanese encephalitis, zika virus infection, and malaria, it said.

Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighboring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

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Minimum wage for FDHs goes up to $4,990 per month

 

Filipino migrant workers in sit-down protest on Chater Road for higher wages 

The Hong Kong government announced this afternoon that the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers will rise to $4,990 per month from the current $4,870, an increase of 2.5  percent.

However, the food allowance paid to FDHs who are not provided with free food by their employers will remain at not less than $1,236 per month.

The new salary will apply to all employment contracts signed from tomorrow, Sept. 28. 

FDH contracts signed today or before at the existing wage of $4,870 per month will still be processed by the Immigration Department, provided the  applications reach the the Department on or before Oct. 25 (Friday).

The announcement was greeted with dismay by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, which had pushed for a minimum wage of $6,172 for FDHs.

AMCB said the  $120 wage increase with no additional food allowance is small relief “for the suffering” migrant workers who are paid a “slave wage.”

“Once again, migrant domestic worker were discriminated against and excluded in (the provision) of better working conditions,” said AMCB.

Had the minimum salary of $6,172 been granted to them, migrant workers and their families would have lived more comfortably, said the group.

Government, on the other hand, said that the determination of the MAW followed a established mechanism that takes into account Hong Kong’s general economic outlook and labour market conditions in the past year, as well as its near-term economic outlook.

“The Government has also reviewed the level of food allowance and, having taken into account the relevant consumer price indices, decided that the level should remain unchanged,” said its statement.

 

 

 

Scam snares trusting Filipina, who gets 6 months in jail

 

Employer's ex-wife was the recipient of dirty money deposited to defendant's bank account

Do not trust anyone, even your employers, if they ask you to accept deposits in your bank account because, in the end, it’s just you who will be responsible if the money turns out to have come from a scam.

This was a lesson that Vinecar Vineles, a 39-year-old domestic helper, learned the hard way after she was jailed for six months for allowing her HSBC bank account to be used as recipient for illicit payments totalling $97,000.

She remitted the entire amount  to her employer’s former wife, who now lives in Thailand.

Vineles was sentenced at West Kowloon Court by Principal Magistrate Amy Chiu after she pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Sept. 25) to money laundering, otherwise known as "dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence."

The offence is punishable under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, for which the prescribed maximum sentence is 14 years in prison and $5 million fine.

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Magistrate Chiu expressed sympathy for Vineles, noting that she did not benefit from these transactions and had no knowledge of the scam, but stressed that the offense was serious and required a prison term.

She cited three previous cases in which the starting points ranged from six months in prison for money laundered amounting to $20,000; to 15 months imprisonment in a case involving $290,000. A more comparable case, which involved $95,000, had a starting point of 12 months.

In Vineles’ case, Magistrate Chiu chose nine months’ imprisonment as the starting point, and then reduced it by a third for her guilty plea.

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The case arose after the ex-wife of Vineles’ employer called to ask for her HSBC account’s number and told her to expect payments, which she would then remit to her in Thailand.

Her lawyer said that since she had worked for the family for more than 10 years, eight of them with the woman, she agreed.

It turned out that the money had come from a scam involving the fake takeover of beauty salons that were going out of business, with the promise of a profit for investors once the businesses were sold after being made profitable.

According to the case read in court, a victim identified as Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), joined the takover bid and paid an initial $52,000 in three deposits into Vineles’ account.

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When PW1 heard nothing more about the deal, they complained to police, who traced the bank account to Vineles.

Investigation showed that other deposits were also made into the account between Oct. 29, 2022 and Aoril 3, 2023, with the total reaching $97,000.

After being arrested, Vineles initially denied knowledge of the scam, saying he was just following orders from her employer’s ex-wife.

But as this case has shown, that was not an acceptable defense as by lending her bank account, she should have known that she was dealing with proceeds from a crime.

She changed her mind shortly before she appeared in court, according to a source.

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